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The  Facts 


ABOUT  THE  PROPOSED 


Bloomington  -  Normal    Park    District 


To  the  Voters  and  Taxpayers  of  Bloomington  and  Normal 
Townships: 

N    PRESENTING   this    little    booklet    to    you    the    Committee 

has  but  one  purpose:     We  earnestly  desire  that  every  citizen 

of  Bloomington  and   Normal  may  become   familiar   with   the 

facts   pertaining   to    the    proposed    Bloomington    and    Normal 

Park  District.     The  members  of  the  committee,   whose   duty 

and  pleasure  it  has  been  to  gather  data  and  formulate  these 

statements,  fully  realize  how  difficult  it  is  for  the  average  busy 

citizen  to  inform' himself  upon  this  question.   Believing,  that 

'  s  IS  a  matter  of  the  greatest  moment  in  determining  the  future  of  Bloom- 

ip'.on  and  Normal,  and  realizing  that  the  voter  will  soon  be  called  to  the  polls 

I    express  his  opinion  as  to  whether  or  not  the  park  district  should  be  organized, 

3.  d  if  organized,  whether  the  trustees  should  be  appointed  or  elected — rcaliz- 

1-    these  things  the  committee  has  made  an  honest  effort  to  secure  the  facts 

;i.d  then  to  state  those  facts  in  such  a  manner  that  even  the  busy  man  may 

♦^ '  k  up  this  booklet,  in  a  spare  moment,  and  gain  some  fact  of  interest.     We 

M.    scarcely    hope    that    these    pages   are    entirely   free    from    error,    notwith- 

^  anding   the    effort    made    to    verify    every    statement.      We    shall,    therefore, 

;.catly  appreciate  the  courtesy  if  the  reader  will  kindly  call  our  attention  to 

erroneous    statements    and    we    will    publicly    correct    the    same.      We    realize 

that  this  is  only  a  primer,  but  we  trust  that  it  may  be  the  means  of  stimulating 

other   and   abler  pens   to   produce   more   pretentious   articles   upon    this    topic. 

Bloomington  Business  Men's  Association, 

By  Special  Park  Committee. 

HOW.\RD    HUMPHREYS. 
Chairman. 
JAMES  A.  WILCOX.  B.   F.  HARBER. 

N.   K.   M'CORMICK,  WILLIAM  R.  BACH, 

DAVID  FELMLEY.  WILBER  M.   CARTER, 

J.   H.  BURNHAM.  A.  B.  HOBLIT. 

ALONZO   DOLAN,  FRED.  D.   BARBER, 

Editor. 


THE  FACTS  ABOUT  THE  PROPOSED 


FACTS    CONCERNING   THE    PARK    PROBLEM 

1.  Peoria  has  acquired  and  developed  during  the  past  seventeen 
years,  and  now  maintains  a  magnificent  Park  System  of  more  than  400 
acres  on  an  average  tax-rate  of  4  and  2-10  mills  on  the  dollar  of  assessed 
valuation — the  assessed  valuation  being  1-3  of  the  real  valuation. 

2.  Springfield  has  acquired  and  developed  during  the  past  9  years, 
and  now  maintains  a  very  creditable  Park  System  of  395  acres  on  an 
average  tax-rate  of  3  and  35-100  mills  on  the  dollar  of  assesse'd  valuation 
— the  assessed  valuation  being  1-3  of  the  real  valuation. 

3.  When  each  of  these  Park  Districts  organized,  it  had  almost  ex- 
actly the  same  property  valuation  now  possessed  by  the  proposed  Bloom- 
ington  and  Normal  Park  District. 

4.  Neither  Peoria  nor  Springfield  had  parks  or  lands  to  begin  with. 
The  Bloomington  and  Normal  District  will,  at  the  outset,  possess  about 
100  acres  of  fairly  well  improved  parks.  It  is,  therefore,  evident  that  the 
Bloomington  and  Normal  Park  District  could,  in  a  few  years  acquire 
and  develop  a  Park  System  on  a  tax-rate  of  4  mills  or  less,  of  which  we 
should  all  be  proud. 

5.  Even  on  a  tax-rate  of  3  mills  we  could,  in  a  few  years,  develop 
a  fairly  creditable  Park  System. 

6.  There  is  not  the  slightest  danger  of  excessive  tax-rates  if  the 
Park  District  is  organized,  since  under  the  Juul  law  of  1909,  a  rate  higher 
than  about  4^  mills  for  park  purposes  is  impossible. 

7.  If  the  Park  District  had  been  organized  previous  to  1910,  and  if 
the  Park  Board  had  BONDED  the  district  to  the  LIMIT  and  had 
TAXED  the  district  to  the  LIMIT,  the  taxes  for  1910  would  have  been 
higher  than  they  now  are,  on  $1,000  of  property,  thus : 

In  the  City  of  Bloomington  in  Bloomington  Township  by  64  cts. 

In  the  City  of  Bloomington  in  Normal  Township  by 83  cts. 

In  the  Incorporated  Town  of  Normal  by $1.50 

8.  The  park  taxes  cannot  amount  to  more  than  $1.50.  or  at  the  ut- 
most SI. 67  per  year  on  $1000  of  property  if  the  LIMIT  of  taxes  and  the 
LIMIT  of  bonded  indebtedness  were  both  reached. 

9.  The  proposed  Park  Plan  contemplates  a  real  Park  System.  The 
general  outlines  of  the  plan  only  can  be  given  now,  it  will  require  years 
of  time  to  work  out  the  details. 

10.  If  tlie  Park  District  is  organized,  there  will  be  expended  an- 
nually for  labor  nearly  ONE  DOLLAR  for  every  MAN,  WOMAN,  and 
CHILD  living  in  the  City  of  Bloomington  and  in  the  Town  of  Normal. 


P.LODMINGTON-XORMAL    PARK    DISTRICT 


11.  If  a  really  creditable  Park  System  is  to  be  developed  in  Bloom- 
iiigton  and  Normal,  it  is  only  fair  that  Normal  and  the  immediately  sur- 
rounding country  shall  join  in  developing  it  because  both  Normal  and  the 
surrounding  country  will  be  benefited  as  much  as  the  City  of  Bloomington. 

12.  For  Park  Purposes,  Bloomington  and  Normal  constitute  a 
NATURAL  UNIT.  Any  really  complete  Park  System  must  include  at 
least  both  municipalities. 

13.  The  recent  SUPREME  COURT  DECISION  shows  clearly 
that  under  the  Juul  law  it  will  be  impossible  for  the  City  of  Bloomington 
to  further  develop  her  city  ])arks  or  even  maintain  her  present  parks  in 
good  form  operating  under  the  city  park  law.  Still  less  possible  is  it  for 
the  Town  of  Noriwal  to  acquire  and  develop  a  Park  System  under  the 
city  park  law. 

14.  Parks,  parkways  and  playgrounds  are  for  the  common,  work- 
ing people — the  wealthy  classes  spend  their  summers  traveling,  or  at  sum- 
mer resorts,  or  on  the  lakes  of  Wisconsin  and  Michigan.  The  working 
man  and  his  family  must  remain  at  home  and  should  have  the  opportunity 
of  enjoying  such  recreation  as  parks  and  playgrounds  afford. 

15.  .The  1..W  ground  of  SL'GAR  CREEK  VALLEY  is  most  val- 
uable for  ]iark  and  parkway  purposes  and  is  IDEAL  land  for  a  portion 
of  the  Park  System. 

16.  A  P.EAUTIFl'L  PARK  SYSTEM  would  aid  greatly  in  IN- 
CREASING THE  POPULATION  and  WEALTH  of  Bloomington  and 
Normal.  We  have  been  steadily  falling  behind  both  Peoria  and  Spring- 
field in  jx^pulation  and  wealth  since  1894. 

17.  rile  development  of  the  Park  System  need  not,  and  will  not, 
seriously  interfere  with  the  development  of  other  improvements  now 
contemplated  in  the  two  towns. 

18.  All  talk  of  USURPATION  OF  STREETS  and  the  building  of 
boulevards  out  into  the  country,  or  the  closing  of  country  roads  to  traffic 
is  WITHOUT  FOUNDATION  and  should  not  receive  serious  consid- 
eration. 

19.  The  SPECIAL  ASSESSMENT  feature  of  the  law  is  EN- 
TIRELY JUST  and  EQLTTABLE,  but  the  supreme  court  has  decided 
that  this,  like  all  other  powers  granted  the  Park  Board.  MLTST  BE 
REASONABLY  EXERCISED. 

20.  The  Park  Trustees  should  be  appointed,  not  elected,  thereby  e.x- 
cluding  politics  from  the  system  and  also  saving  the  District  several  hun- 
dred dollars  aniuially  in  election  expenses. 

21.  Finally, —  If  you  wOuld  learn  the  truth  regarding  these  state- 
ments read  carefully  the  following  pages : 


rill-:    FAC'IS    AliOLT    TlIK    I'Rorosi:!) 


WHO  PROPOSED  THE  NEW  JOINT  PARK  PLAN 

Question — \\  ln»  t"ir>t  proposed  that  Bloomington  and  Xormal  should 
unite  in  a  Joint  Park  District? 

Answer — While  this  plan  has  been  under  consideration  by  some  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  Bloomington  and  Xormal  for  two  years  or  more,  the  plan 
was  publicly  proposed  by  the  present  Board  of  Park  Commissioners  through 
Mr.  \Vm.  R.  Bach,  a  member  of  that  Board,  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Bloomington  Business  Men's  Association. 

Ques. — What   action   was   taken   by  them? 

Ans. A  motion  that  it  be  referred  to  a  committee  of  ten  to  investigate 

fully  and  take  proper  steps  to  submit  question  to  the  vote  of  the  people, 
unanimously  carried.     There  were  present  250  business  men  of  Bloomington. 

Ques. — Who  are  now  promoting  this  project  and  urging  the  people  to 
"VOTE  YES?" 

Ans. A    niaj(jrity    nf    the    present    board    of    Park    Commissioners,    the 

Bloomington  Business  Men's  Association,  several  clubs  and  organizations, 
including  the  Woman's  Club,  Post  L.  T.P.A.  (Traveling  men),  and  the  fol- 
lowing list  of  citizens  with  a  line  of  comment  they  have  publicly  made  on  the 
(luestion. 


Editor    of    Pantagraph 

"It    appeals    to    the    better    judgment    and 
taste  of  the  people." 

Editor  of  Bulletin 

"First    class    Park    System    tremendously 
boosts    value   of   outlying   property." 

Editor   Bloomington   Journal 

"An   attraction   to   draw   outside   visitors." 

Woman's  Club  of  Bloomington 

"Park   System   would   benefit   all." 

T.   P.  A.  Traveling  Men 

"Resolved    that    we    favor    the    Joint    Park 
District.     'It's  best  for  all  the  people.'  " 

W.   H.   Hunter 

"I    intend     to   vote   yes." 

John   J.    Condon 

"No    valid    objection    against    it    can    be 
urged." 

A.   A.   Rothman 

"The    objections    have    been    grossly    ex- 
aggerated." 

Gov.    Fifer 

"There   is  nothing  that   adds   more  to   the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  a  city." 

Paul    F.    Beich 

".Ml    building    lines    will     necessarily    feel 
the    effects." 

J.   S.   Ewing 

"I    am   satisfied    the   expense   will    not    ap- 
proximate the   benefits." 


B.   F.   Harber 

"Every   one   should    'boost'   the   new   park 
idea." 

O.    L.    Manchester 

"The    general    scheme    looks    good." 

E.    Mark    Evans 

"Plan    entirely   feasible." 

Milton   R.    Livingston 

"Is    certainly    worthy    of    pushing." 

Howard    Humphreys 

"Leaving    an    almost    priceless    legacy    to 
posterity." 

President    David    Felmley 

"Could    be    made    most    beautiful    and    at- 
tractive." 

Albert    Livingston 

"An   adoption   of  common  practice   in   the 
cities   of   Europe." 

J.    C.    Elder 

"Greatly    benefited    by    system    of      small 
parks." 

Sig    Heldman 

"Will    increase    the    value    of    farms." 

F.   F.   Seibert 

".\    fine    thing    for    the    two    townships." 

R.   F.   Empson 

"Sugar   Creek   bottom   is   an   eyesore." 

J.    E.    Hurst 

"Heartily    favor    the    plan." 

E.   Patterson 

"A  good  and  progressive  movement." 


l',LOO>fINGTON-NORMAL    PARK    DISTRICT 


Chris    Carver 

"Appears   to   nie   to   be    a   good   one." 

G.    C.    Heberling 

"A   distinct   step   forward." 

Henry    Thoma 

'Tntold    value    to    cities." 

C.    B.    Merwin 

"It  would  be  no  burden  on  small  or  large 
taxpayer." 

Dr.  Winget 

"Heartily   in   favor  of  the  park  system." 

Dr.    Lockett 

".\  fine  thing  to  purchase  the  land  for 
this    now.' 

Sam    Holder 

"A  good  investment  from  a  business 
standpoint." 

Mrs.    Elizabeth    Lewis 

"Without  taint  of  selfishness,  leave  our 
stamp    for    succeeding    generations." 

Robt.    Johnson 

"Generations  to  come  will  lie  blessed 
by    the    effort." 

Dr.  W.  E.  Atkins 

"Will    benefit    our    city.  " 

Dr.    Vandervort 

"Nfake  Bloomington  finest  looking  town 
in    state." 

Dr.    Omer 

"Have  park  reservations  before  land  be- 
comes   high." 

Dr.    Daugherty 

"When  people  understand  it  thoroughly, 
they  will  have  no  hesitancy  in  voting 
for     it." 

Dr.   Thos.    Bath 

".\  mighty  advertisement  for  .Normal 
University." 

Dr.   Kelso 

"Kvery  city  of  this  size  should  have  a 
park    system." 

Dr.   Guthrie 

"Heartily     favor    the    park     system." 

H.    D.    Hanger 

"Nothing  that  improves  a  city  like  a 
good    park    system." 

Henry  Behr 

".\  misfortune  if  present  opportunity  is 
neglected." 

R.    E.   Hurst 

"A    very    great    need    in    an    inland    city." 


Harry  Reed 

"Will    naturally    bring    people    here." 

Dr.     Herr 

"Park    systems    have     not     been     burden- 
some." 

Ben    Sumner 

"Whatever      benefits    a      town,      attracts 
homeseekers." 

T.    B.    Rhodes 

"Every     city     needs     and     should     have    a 
park   system." 

I.    Dunn 

"Cost    will    not    be    noticed." 

T.    H.    Smith 

".Serves     as     nothing     else     can     to     unite 
two    prosperous    towns." 

E.  B.    Famham 

"Cost    insignificant    compared    with    bene- 
fits." 

Dr.    Cantrell 

"I     favor    taking    the    question    in    future 
out    of    politics." 

W.   L.   Martin 

"A     generous    heartfelt     thought     for     the 
coming    generation." 

A.   W.   Huffman 

"Results  from    Park   Systems  have   pleased 
other   cities." 

A.    M.    Kitchen 

"111     favor    of    the     Park     System." 

Egbert   B.   Hawk 

"Conservinif    all    the    interests    of    all    the 
people    of    both    townships." 

Dr.    McGuire 

"Both  towns  too  progressive  to  vote  away 
this   opportunity." 

I.   H.  Johnson 

"PIca.sant    surroundings    in    a    city    attract 
honu-scckcrs." 

Dr.    W.    E.    Neiberger 

"Pleasant     surroundings     are     our     assets, 
and    we   should    increase    them." 

F.  W.    Niergarth 

"The    small    taxes    insignificant    compared 
to    increased    values." 

E.    H.    Jackman 

"One    of    the    greatest    charities    that    can 
be    provided." 

L.   W.    Howard 

"In    favor   of   the    Park    System." 

E.    C.    George 

"When  taxpayer  investigates,  he  will  real- 
ize it   is   a  splendid   investment." 


THE  FACTS  ABOUT  THE  PROPOSED 


F.    D.    Keck  L.    T.    Wilcox 

"Control    can    safely    be    entrusted    to    in-  "Arguments    in   favor  prevail   greatly   over 

dependent    body."  those    against." 

W.   F.   Young  R-    J-    Erwin 

"Not   only   reasonable   and   practical   plan,  "Character    of    the    endorsement    is    suffi- 

but    a   necessity."  cient   guarantee." 

Chas.  A.   Tappe  Geo.   A.   Washburn 

"A   step   in   the   right   direction,   deserving  "No   one    will    suffer    any   hardships    as    a 

success."  result." 

A.    S.   Arnold  R.    H.   Steed 

"VVould    result   in   benefit   to   both   cities."  "Park    Commissioners    will    not    put    bur- 
dens   on    the    people." 
T.    S.    Bunn 

"The    tax    question — A    straw    man."  '-'•    ^-    Hernck 

"A  large  proportion  of  farmers  will  favor 

Arthur   L.    Pillsbury  it." 


"The    proposition,     a     result       of       careful        ,,,.,,.  „ 

thought   and    studv."  William    Krebs 


ight 

"Promises    a    greater    and    more    beautiful 
W.    F.    Costigan  Hloomington." 

"The  practicability  has  been  decided  upon  ti     i, 

by  competent  men  qualified  to  judge."  John    Beck 

"The    expense    will    be    spread    out    over 
F.    R.    Bean  several   years." 

"Great   benefits   with  little   cost."  „       ,    ,     .,.,, 

Frank  I.   Miller 

E.   W.   Gowdy  "One   of   the   best   things   we   have   before 

"Let    us    have    some    parks    around     our  us.      Will    be   highly   beneficial." 

depots."  D     r.     n/r 

F.    D.    Marquis 

Julius   Funk  "In    favor   of   the    Park    System." 

"It's   best   for   all  the  people."  ,  ^  , 

Alonzo    Dolan 

A.   C.    Eddy  "It   will   put  the  two   cities   in   a  class   by 

"The  march  of  progress  is  constantly   im-  themselves, 

peded    by    those    whose    argument    is    for       j      -a     ui 
procrastination   and   delay."  ^-    °-    Merwin 

"No  doubt  but  that  it  will  increase  value 
R.    R.    Enlow  of   property." 

"We     should     be     numbered     among     the       -itt    n     vt 
cities  that  have  the  most  improvements."        "'•   "•   Boyce 

"Will     make     Hloomington     a    more    pro- 
Geo.    H.    Miller  gressive    city." 

"Must  keep  moving  forward  to  pi-event  fall-       z^     c     u    i     a 
ing  into   the   rut   of   indifference."  ^-    Sutherland 

"In   favor   of    Park    System. 
C.   B.   Hamilton 

"A    most    far-reaching    and    beneficial    im-       •''       "^^^^       ^  .  .    „ 

provement."  "xVo    taxpayer    should    vote    against    it. 

A.    B.   Hoblit  E.  W.  Cole 

"Following   the   lead   of   other   progressive  "Will   prove  a  great  benefit  to  our  city." 

cities." 

Campbell    Holton 
Chas.   F.  J.   Agle  "One   of   the    greatest   improvements   sug- 

"A    progressive    step     and     will     result     in  gtstcd    in    many    years." 

benefits." 

J.     H.    Burnham 
■  Will   Evans  ".\ttract    and    hold    the    best    class    of    in- 

"I    am    in    favor   of   the    Park    System."  habitants." 

Huber   Light  L.   E.   Hersey 

"The    trustees    will    be    fit    men    and    use  "A     mutual     benefit.       Brings    people    to 

good    judgment."  h.ilh   towns." 

Lyman    Graham  Dr.    J.    A.    Moore 

"Would    ri-sult   in   increased   values   of  ad-  "We    should     never      take     a      backward 

jacent  and   distant   property."  step." 


BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL    PARK    DISTRICT 


J.   E.   Gregg 

"Draws   a   better   class   of  people." 

J.    N.    Foster 

"A    free    hospital     conducted     by     Mother 
Nature." 

A.    D.    Loar  . 

"Cost     will     be     more     evenly    and     justly 
divided." 

Oscar    Mandel 

"A    benefit,   pride   and   pleasure   to   us   and 
our    desccndents." 

P.    A.    Dewenter 

"Highly    in    favor    of    the    new    Park    Sys- 
tem." 

Geo.    A.    Brown 

".Make     the     waste     places     beautiful.        1 
f.ivor  the  new    Park  System." 

Dr.    G.    R    Smith 

"Enhances    the    value    of    property." 
Geo.    Lathrop 

"The    best    advertising    medium    for    our 
city." 

R.   I.   Spafiford 

"No  improvement  of  equal   cost   will   ben- 
efit   a   greater    number." 

Mark    W.    Savage 

"Greatly    increase    property    at    infinitesi- 
mal  cost." 

T.  A.  Braley 

"Every    dollar    of    tax    a    Gilt     Edge    in- 
vestment." 

C.   U.  WUliamt 

"Cost    insignificant,    benefits    inestimable." 

Geo.  W.  Bansau 

"A   good   thing." 

Dr.    H.    C.    Rodenhauser 

"A    city    is   judged    by    its    looks." 

Ben.    L.   Goodheart 

"An    advanced    step    for    Blooniington." 

Geo.    H.    Cox 

"A   pride   and    a    pleasure   to   all    the   peo- 
ple.^' 

W.   H.   Roland 

"Means   larger   and   greater    Bloomington" 

R.    O.    Graham 

".Vow's    the    ilay    and    now's   the   hour." 


R.    C.    Baldwin 

"There    is    no    good    reason    for    opposing 
it." 

Oscar    E.    Seibel 

"Of    inestimable    value    to    the    two    town- 
ships." 

E.  R.  Morgan 

"May   not    be    able   to   do   it    later." 

J.    S.   Joplin 

"Good    business    proposition    at    the    right 
time." 

B.    S.    Green 

"fClevating   and   educational." 

E.    Mammen 

"Should    meet    the    approval    of    all." 

J.   W.   Gray 

"Everyone   should    help    along." 

J.    W.   Jarmtn 

"A   good   thing.      Should    interest   all." 

Sam   Waldman 

"Benefit  derived  would  more  than  repay 
expense. 

A.    S.    Swartzman 

"In    favor    of    the    Park    System." 

W.    B.    Read 

"Progressive  and  an  addition  to  our  in- 
stitutions." 

Sig.    Livingston 

"It    is   progressive." 

James    A.    Wilcox 

"Finest  thing  for  Bloomin^on  and  Nor- 
mal ever  presented  to  either  of  the 
cities." 

S.    R.    White 

"\Sill  clean  up  Sugar  Creek  and  protect 
water    supply." 

H.    C.   Wagner 

"It     will     benefit     all." 

F.    C.    Smith 

"No    better    way." 

Rev.    E.    DeWitt   Jones 

"In  keeping  with  general  progress  of 
up-to-date    city." 

W.    H.   Bach 

"Intensely    practical." 


TllR    FACTS    ABOUT    THE    PROPOSED 


THE  PROPOSED  PLAN 

Ques. — Has  any  definite  plan  for  a  park  S3'stem  for  the  Bloomington  and 
Normal   Park   District  been   proposed? 

Ans. — A  plan  has  been  proposed  by  the  committee  representing  the 
Bloomington  Business  Men's  Association.  The  plan  proposed,  however,  is 
merely  a  general  plan,  not  a  definite  plan. 

COMMITTEE'S  STATEMENT 

To  the  Public: — Recognizing  that  the  people  of  the  district  sought  to 
be  organized  as  a  park  district  should  have  a  full  and  complete  understanding 
of  all  matters  that  are  apt  to  arise  in  the  discussion  of  .the  question  and  that 
they  may  know  what  is  intended  by  the  men  who  are  furthering  the  movement, 
we  hereby  declare  that  if  the  voters  of  the  two  townships  should  act  favorably 
on  the  matter  and  we,  or  any  of  us,  or  any  person  whom  we  might  influence, 
are  selected  as  members  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  said  park  district,  it  will 
be  our  honest  endeavor  to  carry  out  the  following  proposed  plan: 

1.  To  establish  a  park  between  the  two  cities  of  Bloomington  and 
Normal,  extending  from  and  including  Trotter  park  (city  water  works  park) 
eastward  toward  Brokaw  hospital;  thence  extending  in  both  a  northeasterly 
direction  to  the  Illinois  Central  railroad  company's  right-of-way  in  the  town 
of  Normal  and  southeasterly  to  White's  Place  in  the  city  of  Bloomington. 
connecting   Clinton   street   and   White's    Place   with    Broadway   in    Normal. 

2.  Concurrently  with  the  work  in  the  parkway  mentioned  in  paragraph 
1  above  to  extend  Miller  park  in  Bloomington  until  it  takes  in  all  property 
lying  between  Wood  street,  Morris  avenue,  Summit  street  and  Springfield 
road.  This  would  require  about  twenty  acres  more  land  than  is  now  owned 
by  the  city  and  included  in  Miller  park,  the  present  acreage  being  eighty  acres. 
To  complete  said  park  by  the  building  of  suitable  conservatory  for  flowers  and 
new  animal  houses. 

3.  To  complete  the  O'Neil  park  and  some  day  connect  it  with  the  other 
parks   by   suitable   driveways. 

4.  To  lay  out  a  new  park  in  Normal  north  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
railroad,  and  this  shall  be  done  in  addition  to  the  beautifying  of  Jesse  Fell 
park. 

5.  To  lay  out  a  new  park  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city  of  Bloomington 
and  connecting  the  same  bj'  suitable  driveways  with  the  other  parks  of  the 
district  where   such   driveways   do  not  already  exist. 

In  making  such  connections  to  utilize  the  territory  that  is  already  de- 
voted to  parks  and  to  quasi-public  uses,  such  as  the  campus  of  State  Normal 
University,  cemeteries,  Soldiers'  Orphans'   Home,  etc. 

The  perfection  of  these  plans  will  take  a  series  of  years  and  of  course  it 
is   the  intention   to  move   carefully  in   this  matter. 

To  levy  no  higher  park  taxes  than  are  now  levied  in  the  city  of  Bloom- 
ington  for  park  purposes. 

In  this  connection  let  it  be  understood  by  all  that  if  this  new  park 
district  is  organized  there  will  be  no  more  taxes  levied  by  the  city  of  Bloom- 
ington for  park  purposes,  as  all  parks  will  be  operated  by  the  officers  of  the 
Bloomington  and  Normal  park  district. 

The  moneys  derived  from  taxes  in  both  townships  shall  be  spent  in 
said  townships  in  the  same  jiroposition  nr  ratio  as  said  taxes  p;iid  by  the 
respective  townships,  our  endeavor  and  aim  being  to  spend  in  each  township 
and  locality  the  proportion  of  park  taxes  paid  in  by  that  respective  township 
or  locality. 


Glen    Oak    Park,    Winter    Scene 


I 

BLOOMIXGTOX-XORMAL    PARK    DISTRICT 


While  it  is  true  that  vindcr  the  law  a  six  (6)  mill  tax  may  be  levied 
for  park  purposes  in  case  this  district  is  organized,  it  is  equally  true  that  the 
aggregate  taxes  that  can  be  levied  for  all  purposes  in  the  cities  of  Bloom- 
ingtcn  and  Normal  cannot  exceed  what  is  now  levied  in  both  cities,  as  we 
understand  that  in  both  cities  the  limit  of  taxes  for  all  purposes  has  been 
reached.  So  that  if  a  park  tax  of  six  (6)  mills  should  be  voted  this  park  tax 
together  with  the  aggregate  of  all  other  taxes  levied  in  the  cities  of  Bloom- 
ington  and  Normal  would  all  be  scaled  down  by  the  county  clerk  to  the  legal 
limit  of  taxes  permitted  by  the  law.  the  only  exception  being  that  the  clerk 
may  not  scale  down  taxes  that  may  be  levied  to  meet  the  payment  of  bonds 
and  interest,  the  legal  limit  of  said  bonds  for  i)urp()ses  being  2'j  per  cent  of 
the  assessed  valuation   for  the  year   1894. 

It  should  be  the  further  aim  nf  the  men  selecte<I  as  park  trustees  to  be 
careful  in  all  matters  and  particularly  in  reference  to  the  purchase  of  land 
and  t-he  levying  of  taxes  for  park  purposes. 

The  board  will  have  the  power  to  condemn  all  land  where  the  owner 
refuses  to  sell  for  a  fair  cash  value. 

It  should  be  the  further  aim  of  the  park  trustees  to  assess  all  property 
adjacent  to  any  new  park  that  may  be  hereafter  laid  out  for  the  special  benefit 
such  property  will  receive  over  and  above  the  general  public  benefit.  This 
will  prevent  any  person  or  persons  or  community  from  receiving  any  special 
benefit  that  they  do  not  pay  for.  nor  can  any  person  receive  any  more  than 
the  actual  cash  value  for  the  land  he  may  sell  for  such  park  purposes. 

Let  us  here  state  that  along  the  Sugar  Creek,  where  the  first  work  is 
proposed,  many  of  the  owners  are  proposing  to  donate  land  and  money  to  the 
enterprise.  Respectfully  submitted, 

SPECIAL  PARK   COMMITTEE. 

Published   in    Pantagraph.   Feb.   3>.   1911. 
and  in  Bulletin,  Feb.  3.  1911. 

Ques. — Why  has  n<>t  the  committee  offered  a  more  definite  plan?  stating 
just  where  the  new  parks  should  be.  how  large  they  should  be  and  just  how 
they  should  be  developed? 

Ans. — Such  definite,  specific  plans  can  only  be  worked  out  by  the  Park 
Bo.ird  in  the  years  to  come.  aide<I  by  the  advice  .mil  counsel  of  an  expert  land- 
scape architect  and  engineer.  A  creditable  park  system  is  a  matter  of  many 
years'  growth. 

FACTS  EVERYBODY  SHOULD  KNOW 

Cost  of  a  Park  System 

Question — Is  there  any  way  of  tell-  Ans. — Peoria  organized   such  a  dis- 

ing   approximately    what    a    creditable  trict    in    1894.      Springfield    organized 

park   system   would    cost    the    BIof)m-  such  a  district  in  1900. 
ington    and    Normal    Park    District    i^ 

such  a  district  were  organized?  r»„..^       u  i  .       •.  j 

.  Ques. — How   large  a   territory   does 

Answer— In.  a  general  way.     \  e>  the  Peoria  district  cover? 

Ques. — How  can  this  be  told?  Ans. — All    of    Peoria    township    and 

Ans,— By  learning  what  it  has  cost       '''"."'^    ^'^.'l^'O^.^    to«:'n^hip    except    a 

other    park    districts    to    acquire  and       ''^"P  *^'''  ^-^  ""'^^  ^"'^^  ^^  the  north 

maintain   similar  systems.  edge. 

Ques. — What    other   districts     have  Ques. — What     cities     and     villages 

been  organized,  which  we  may  study?       does    this    Peoria    District    include? 


10 


THE    FACTS    ABOUT    THE    PROPOSED 


Ans. — City  of  Peoria  and  the  vil- 
lages of  North  Peoria,  South  Peoria, 
Averyville,  and   Peoria   Heights. 

Ques. — How  large  a  territory  does 
the    Springfield    Park    District    cover, 

Ans.— The  Springfield  Park  District 
includes  all  of  Springfield  Township, 


all  of  Capitol  Township,  and  a  strip 
two  (2)  miles  wide  oflF  the  north  edge 
of   Woodside    Township. 

Ques. — What  cities  and  villages  are 
included   in   this   district? 

Ans. — The  city  of  Springfield  and 
the  village  of  Ridgley. 


Real  Valuation  of  the  Three   Districts 

Ques. — How  did  the  real  valuation 
of  property  lying  within  the  Park 
Districts  of  Peoria  and  Springfield  at 
the  time  each  district  was  organized 
compare  with  the  real  valuation  of 
property  lying  within  the  proposed 
Bloomington  and  Normal  District  m 
1910? 

Ans.— The  real  value  of  property 
in  the  three  districts  at  the  time  men- 
tioned is  nearly  the  same,  as  shown 
by  the   following  figures: 

Real  value  of  property  lying  within 
Peoria  District,   1894— $38,926,300. 

Real  value  of  property  lying  within 
Springfield  District,  1901— $37,500,- 
000*. 

Real  value  of  property  lying  within 
Bloomington-Normal,  1910— $36,020,- 
244. 


field  have  any  parks  or  own  lands 
which  could  be  converted  into  parks 
at  the  time  they  organized  as  park 
districts? 

Ans. — No,  neither  of  those  cities 
possessed    either    parks    or    lands. 

Ques. — What  is  the  real  valuation 
of  property  lying  within  the  Peoria 
and  Springfield  Park  Districts  in 
1910? 


Ans. — The  real  valuation  of  all 
property  in  the  Peoria,  Springfield 
and  the  proposed  Bloomington-Nor- 
mal  districts,   for   1910  is  as   follows: 

Real  value  of  property  in  the  Pe- 
oria  District,    1910,   $66,953,829, 

Real  value  of  property  in  the 
Springfield   District,   1910,  $53,817,324. 

Real  value  of  property  in  the 
Bloomington-Normal,  1910,  $36,020,- 
244. 


Ques.— Did  either  Peoria  or  Spring- 
Size  and  Cost  of  Peoria's  Park  System 

and  $6,000  of  notes.  But  at  that  time 
there  was  also  in  the  treasury  a  cash 
balance  of  $30,353.50. 


Ques.— How  many  acres  of  park 
dr.cs  the  Peoria  Park  District  now 
possess? 

Ans.— 411.23  acres,  and  2^  miles  of 
boulevard. 

Ques.— Are  Peoria's  Parks  well  im- 
proved? 

Ans.— Yes,  Peoria's  parks  are  high- 
ly improved.  They  arc  magnificent 
and  the  pride  of  the  community. 

Ques.— What  has  Peoria's  park  sys- 
tem cost  the  park  district? 

Ans.— The  lowest  tax  receipts  dur- 
ing the  first  16  years  was  $57,75-^84, 
and  the  highest  was  $84,910.35.  The 
average  annual  tax  receipt  was  $68,- 
425  45.  At  the  close  of  the  16th  year 
the  district  had  outstanding,  $190,- 
000  of  3^,  4,  and  4^  per  cent  bonds, 


Ques. — On  the  basis  of  our  present 
1-3  valuation,  what  tax  rate  has  the 
Peoria  Park  District  actually  assessed 
for  all  purposes,  viz:  maintenance, 
sinking  fund,  and  interest  on  bonded 
indebtedness? 

Ans.— 4  4-10  mills,  4  5-10  mills. 
4  2-10  mills,  4  mills,  4  5-10  mills.  3 
7-10  mills,  4  5-10  mills,  3  6-10  mills, 
4  mills,  4  mills.  4  mills,  4  mills,  4  mills, 
4  mills.  4  mills.  3  3-10  mills  and  4 
mills  for  this  first  17  years.  This 
makes  an  average  of  4  2-10  mills  as 
the  tax  rate  levied  by  the  Peoria  Park 
District  to  cOver  all  park  expenses, 
viz.:  maintenance,  sinking  fund,  and 
interest    on    bonds. 


The  County  Clerk  of  Sangamon  County  reports  the  exact  figures  for  1901   as  lost, 
figures    given    are    a    close    approximation. 


The 


BI.OOMIXGTOX-XORMAL    PARK    DISTRICT 


11 


Size  and  Cost  of  Springfield's  Park  System 


Ques. — How  many  acres  does  the 
S|)riiigtield  Park  District  now  con- 
tain? 

Ans. — About  395  acres,  and  ll4 
miles   of   boulevard. 

Ques— .\re  the  Springfield  parks 
well  improved? 

Ans. — Not  so  highly  improved  as 
the  Peoria  parks  but  they  are  being 
rapidly   developed. 

Ques. — What  have  Springfield  parks 
cost  the  park  district? 

Ans. — The  receipts  from  taxes  for 
the  first  5  vears  were  as  follows: 
$31,717.56,  $34,495.69;  $37,003.47;  $30,- 
023.92;  $27,182.80.  The  district  h.id 
then  outstanding  $50,000  of  4'~'r  bonds 
which  brought  $50,259.50. 


Ques.— On  the  present  basis  of  1-3 
valuation,  what  tax-rate  has  the 
Sprmgfield  park  district  actually  as- 
sessed for  all  purposes,  viz:  mainte- 
nance, sinking  fund,  and  interest  on 
bonded  indebtedness? 

,  i^"^-T2  ^^^  '"'"s-  2  7-10  mills.  2 
3-10  mills,  2  4-10  mills,  3  2-10  mills. 
4  mills,  4  mills,  4  5-10  mills,  and  4 
4-10  mills  for  the  first  9  years.  The 
average  for  the  first  5  years,  till  bonds 
were  issued,  was  2  7-10  mills,  and  an 
average  of  3  35-100  mills  for  the  first 
9  years. 

Ques.— What  has  been  the  total 
amount  expended  upon  the  Peoria 
Parks? 

Ans.— The  total  expenditures  for 
the  first   14  years  was  $1,199,153.75. 


Labor  the  Principal  Item  of  Expense 


Ques. — What  portion  r>f  this  total 
amount  was  for  land  and  what  amount 
w.is   for  labor? 

Ans.— $142,300  was  for  land,  and 
about  $800,000  for  labor. 

Ques. — What  total  amount  has  been 
expended  upon  the  Springfield  parks? 

Ans.— $219,132.83  during  the  hf^t 
five  years. 

Ques. — Of  this  sum  what  amount 
was  expended  for  land  and  what  for 
labor? 

Ans. — $40,839  for  lands,  and  between 
$125,000  and   $150,000  for   labor. 

Ques. — In  general,  what  is  the  chief 
item  of  expense  in  maintaining  a 
park  system  after  the  land  has  been 
acquired? 

Ans. — Labor.  From  7S^r  to  90';'<i  is 
for  labor. 

Ques. — If  the  proposed  Blooming- 
ton  and  Normal  Park  District  were  to 
raise  the  same  amount  that  Spring- 
held  raised  for  park  purposes  during 
the    first    five   years,   viz.:   $32,000  an- 


nii.illy,    what    would    be    our    tax-rate 
for  park  purposes? 

Ans. — Under  those  conditions,  our 
tax-r;itc  would  be  less  than  2  7-10 
mills  or  a  tax  of  90  cents  a  year  on 
$1,000  of  property. 

Ques.— If  the  park  district  should, 
at  the  end  of  5  years,  issue  $50.00<) 
of  bonds  as  Springfield  did,  what 
would   then   be   our  tax-rate? 

Ans. — Our  tax-rate  would  probably 
not  be  further  increased  at  all  be- 
cause our  real  valuation  is  slowly  but 
constantly  increasing.  It  is  now  near- 
ly 1  1-2  times  what  it  was  15  vears 
ago. 

Ques.— Would  it  be  possible  for  the 
Bloomington-Normal  Park  District 
to  maintain  its  present  parks  and 
make  some  considerable  improve- 
ments on  this  same  2  7-10  mill  rate 
used  by  Springfield  the  first  5  years? 

Ans. — Yes.  such  a  rate  would  yield 
about  twice  the  amount  now  expended 
by  the  city  of  Bloomington  on  her 
parks. 


TllF.    FACTS    AP.nUT    THE    PROTOSED 


What  Bloomington  Now  Spends  on  Parks 

Ques. — What  amount  does  Bloomington  now  spend  annuallj-  upon  her 
city   parks? 

Ans. — The  ledger  of  the  park  account  shows  the  following  for  the  cur- 
rent year: 

RECEIPTS 

Revenue    from    Miller    I'ark    $  4,068.64 

From    Taxes    - 17,000.00 


$21,068.00 
i:.\i'i:nditures 

Salaries  and   lalmr— including  band   and   repairs $  9,113.33 

Purchase    of   lands    • 5,269.37 

Interest   on    lands   purchased   360.00 

Special  assessments  89.85 

Rent  of  land  - 150.00 

Forage   and    feed    for   animals   1,071.19 

Insurance  52.50 

Coal    60.56 

Lumber,   Supplies   and    Sundry    Expenses   3,933.18 


$20,099.98 

The  Issuing  of  Bonds 

Ques. —  In  issuing  bonds  did  Peoria  and  Springfield  go  to  the  limit 
allowed    by   law? 

Ans.— Peoria   did;    Springfield   did   not. 

Ques. — What   is  the  limit   of  bonding  power  granted   the   park  trustees? 
Ans. — 2^/2   per  cent  on   the   assessed   valuation   for   the   year   1894. 

Ques. — What,  then,  i>  the  greatest  amount  of  l)onds  whicii  could  be 
legally  issued  by  the  trustees  of  the  Peoria  District,  the  Springfield  District 
and  the  proposed   Bloomington  and   Normal    District. 

Ans. — 

Assessed  Bonding  Bonds    out- 

District  Valuation,    1894  Limit  standing 

Peoria    District   $7,785,260  $194,631.50  $190,000 

Springfield    6.446.415  161.160.37  50,000 

P.lonmington-Normal    4.822,013  120,550.32 

"Maximum  Tax-Rates'  and   Actual   Tax-Rates 

Ques. — Under    the    park    law    what    is    the    maximum    rate    of    taxation 
which    the   park    trustees   may  assess   for  purposes   of   maintenance? 
Ans. — 6  mills   on    the   dollar   of   .nssessed    valuation. 

Ques. — Is  there  any  good  reason  why  we  should  not  expect  the  Park 
Hoard  to  levy  that  6  mill  tax  if  the  district  were  organized? 

Ans. — Yes.     There  are  two  good  reasons  why  we  should  not  expect  this: 


ni.OOMIXGTOV  \OR>[AI,    PARK    DISTRICT  13 

l\r>{ — A^  has  been  clearly  >hu\vn,  no  such  tax-rate  would  be  needed  to 
maintain  a  thoroughly  cre<litable  system.  Such  a  rate  would  develop  and 
maintain  a  park  -y-tem  like  Peoria's — 400  acres  of  magnificent  parks — if  it 
could  be  collected. 

.SiC"M(l — Such  a  tax-rate  would  be  impossible,  because  it  cculd  not  be 
collected. 

Ques. — W  hat    is    meant    by    'assessed    valuation"    of    property? 

Ans. — The  "assessed  value"  of  propcrtv  is  1-3  its  real  value.  Property 
worth  $1,000  is  assessed  at  $333.33. 

Ques. — How    is   the   tax-rate   usually   stated? 

Ans. — S'^imetimes  it  is  stated  as  so  many  mills  on  the  dollar  of  assessed 
vakiation,  and  sometimes  it  is  stated  as  so  many  dollars  and  cents  per  $100 
of  assessed  valuation.  A  tax-rate  of  3  mills  on  the  dollar  is  the  same  as  a 
rate  of  30  cents  on  a  $100. 

Scaling  of  Tax-Rates 

Ques. — What  are  thr  provisions  of  the  law  which  make  it  impossible 
for  the  Park  District  to  levy  and  collect  the  full  6  mill  tax  allowed  by  the 
park    law? 

Ans. — The  law  provides  that  the  County  Clerk  must  scale  down  certain 
tax-rates  before  extendinp  the  taxes,  provi'ded  that  the  total  tax-rate  for  all 
l)urpnses  exceeds  30  mill<  on  the  dollar  or  $3.00  on  the  $100  of  assessed 
valuation. 

Ques. —  If  the  total  rate  for  all  purjjoses  exceeds  $3.00  on  the  $100  is 
it  tlicn  the  duty  of  the  County  Clerk  to  scale  down  all  tax-rates  proportion- 
ally so  as  to  bring  the  rate  down  to  the  $3.(X)? 

Ans. —  No.  Certain  tax-rates  cannot  be  scaled  at  all:  other  rates  may 
be  scaled  if  the  rate  runs  above  certain  limits:  siill  other  r.ite^  arc  -iihiect  to 
scaling  whether  or  not  a  limit  is  reached. 

Ques. — Had  the  new  park  district  been  organized  and  taxes  levied  for 
the  year  1910,  and  the  maximum  taxes  for  ordinary  park  purposes  been  levied 
by  the  Park  Board,  namely  six  mills  (.(X)6),  how  much  of  the  six  mill  tax 
could  have  been  collected  on   the  taxable  property  of  the   Park  District? 

Ans. — The  amount  would  have  been  3  6-10  mills  C0O36)  on  the  dollar 
assessed   value  of  property. 

Ques. — Would  this  tax-rate  for  park  i)urposes  be  the  same  in  all  parts 
of  the   park   districts?" 

Ans. — The  same  tax-rate  for  park  purposes  would  be  collected  in  every 
portion  of  the  new  i)ark  district.  That  is,  the  rate  in  Bloomington  Town- 
ship outside  of  the  city  of  Bloomington:  and  the  rate  in  Xormal  Township 
outside  of  the  Incorporated  Town  of  Xormal.  would  be  the  same  as  the  rate 
for  park  taxes  inside  of  cither  the  Incorporated  City  of  Bloomington  or  Xor- 
mal     There  could  be  but  one  park  tax-rate  for  the  entire  district. 

Tax-Rates  Levied  in  Bloomington  and  Normal.  1910 

Ques. — What  rates  were  levied  in  1910  for  various  purposes  in  Bloom- 
ington and  Xormal  and  what  the  limit  which  might  have  been  levied? 


14 


THE    FACTS    ABOUT    THE    PROPOSED 


Ans. — Rates  levied  1910,  on  $100  Assessed  Valuation. 


KINDS  OK  TAXES 


State  taxes 

County  taxes 

Township  taxes 

City  taxes  (ordinary  purposes)  ■•■ 

City  taxes  (library  purposes) 

City  taxes  (parlc  purposes)    

City  taxes  (boHd  purposes) 

School  tax  (educational  purposes) . 

School  tax  (building  purposes) 

Road  and  bridge  tax 


Total  tax  1910. 


Bloomington 


Bloomineton 
Township 


.30 
$0.27 

.03 

1.20 

.  .12 

21 

.23 
1.36 

.34 

.36 

$4.42 


Normal 
I'owoship 


30 

$0.27 

.04 

1-20 

■  00 

.00 

1.00 

143 

•  00 

00 


$4.24 


Bloomington 

Limit  of 

in 

Taxes  that 

Normal 

can  be 

Township 

Levied 

.30 

No  Limit 

SO.  27 

$0.45 

.04 

No  Limit 

1.20 

1.20 

.12 

.12 

.21 

.30 

.23 

* 

l.,36 

1.50 

.34 

1.50 

.30 

.36 

$4  37 

*  Depends  upon  amount  of  bonds  outstandine. 

Ques. — Of  the  foregoing  taxes  what  ones  can  be  scaled  and  how  much? 

Ans. — Township    taxes,   library   taxes   and   park   taxes.    These   only   can 

be  scaled  down  such  a  per  cent  as  may  be  necessary  to  comply  with  the  law. 

Ques. — Has  the  question  been  determined  by  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Illinois  as  to  how  the  total  tax  of  the  foregoing  municipalities  should  be 
scaled  down  in  order  to  comply  with  the  law? 

Ans. — Yes,  in  the  case  of  the  People  ex  rel.  Weber  v.  C.  &  E.  I.  R.  R. 
Co.,  decided  at  the  February  Term,  1911,  of  the  Supreme   Court. 

Bloomington  in  Bloomington  Township 


Ques. — Under  this  decision,  what  is 
the  total  tax  that  should  have  been 
levied  in  the  city  of  Bloomington, 
Bloomington  Township  for  year 
1910? 

Ans.— $4.30. 

Ques. — What  taxes  should  have 
been  reduced  to  bring  the  levy  down 
to  $4.30? 


Ans. — Library  Tax  reduced  from 
12c  to  8c.  Park  tax  reduced  from 
21c  to  14c.  Township  Tax  reduced 
from  3c   to  2c. 

Ques. — Under  the  law.  could  any  of 
the   other  taxes  levied  be  reduced? 

Ans. — No.  Since  none  of  the  other 
taxes  exceed  the  limitation  provided 
by  law. 


Normal    in    Normal    Township 


Ques. — Under  this  decision,  what  is 
the  total  tax  that  should  have  been 
levied  in  the  Incorporated  Town  of 
Normal  for  the  year   1910? 

Ans.— $4.23. 

Ques. — What  taxes  should  have 
been    reduced    in    the      Incorporated 


Town    of    Normal    to    bring   the    levy 
down  to  $4.23? 

Ans. — Township  tax  should  have 
been  reduced  Ic.  All  other  taxes  lev- 
ied are  within  the  limit  and  therefore 
could  not  under  the  circumstances 
be  scaled. 


Bloomington  in  Normal  Township 


Ques. — Under  this  decision,  what  is 
the  total  tax  that  should  have  been 
levied  in  the  city  of  Bloomington 
lying  in  Normal  Township  for  the 
year   1910? 

Ans.— $4.25. 


Ques. — What  taxes  should  have 
been  reduced  to  bring  down  the  levy 
to  $4.25. 

Ans. — Township  tax  reduced  from 
4c  to  3c.  Library  tax  reduced  from 
12c  to  8c.  Park  tax  reduced  from  21c 
to  r4c. 


BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL   PARK   DISTRICT 


15 


Ques.— \\  liy  were  not  the  taxes  in 
the  city  of  Bloomington  in  Bloom- 
ington  Township;  the  city  of  Bloom- 
ington in  Normal  Township;  and  the 
Incorporated  town  of  Normal  re- 
duced for  the  year  1910? 

Park  District 


Ans. — (J wing  to  the  confusion  in 
regard  to  the  law,  and  to  the  fact 
that  the  Supreme  Court  did  not  de- 
cide the  questions  involved  until  Feb- 
ruary,   1911. 


Ques. — If  the  new  park  district  were 
organized,  would  the  taxes  that  this 
new  district  would  levy  for  ordinary 
park  purposes  be  subject  to  reduc- 
tion by  the  County  Clerk? 

Ans. — There  being  no  minimum 
rate  for  Park  purposes  in  the  new 
district  if  organized,  and  the  maxi- 
mum rate  for  ordinary  park  purposes 
for  maintenance  being  six  mills 
(.006),  on  the  dollar,  it  would  be  the 
duty  of  the  County  Clerk  to  scale 
down  any  taxes  levied  for  mainte- 
nance of  parks. 

Ques.— Can  the  County  Clerk  scale 
down  the  levy  made  for  the  payment 
of  the  interest  on  bonds  or  for  a  sink- 
ing fund  to  pay  off  the  bond" 

Ans. — No.   He  can  not. 

Ques. — Can  it  be  shown  just  how  the 
scaling  down  of  tax-rates  is  to  be 
figured? 

Ans. — The  method  to  be  followed 
in  scaling  tax-rates  can  be  best  shown 


by  showing  exactly  how  the  tax-rates 
should  have  been  scaled  this  year, 
1910. 

Example: — In  the  City  of  Bloom- 
ington, in  Bloomington  Township  the 
total  rate  was  $4.42  per  $100  assessed 
valuation.  From  the  $4.42  we  take 
$3.00.  This  leave  $1.42,  which  is  the 
excess  of  the  rate  over  the  $3.00  limit. 
Now  $1.42  divided  by  the  $4.42  gives 
.32,  therefore,  the  rate  is  32  per  cent 
above  the  $3.00  limit.  Now  the  Su- 
preme Court  has  decided  that  under  the 
Juul  law  just  three  (3)  of  the  dif- 
ferent tax-rates  given  above  should 
be  scaled  down  this  32  per  cent.  Those 
are  the  township  rate,  the  city  rate 
for  library  purpose,  and  the  city  rate 
for  park  purposes.  Therefore,  the 
township  rate  should  be  scaled  from 
3  cents  to  2  cents,  the  city  rate  for 
library  purposes  should  have  been 
scaled  from  12  cents  to  8  cents;  ant! 
the  city  rate  for  park  purposes  should 
have  been  scaled  from  21  cents  U 
14    cents. 

MAXIMUM    RATE   WHICH    MIGHT    HAVE    BEEN    LEVIED    IF   THE 
PARK  HAD  BEEN  ORGANIZED  IN  1910 


Ques. — If  the  Rlo.miington  and  Nor- 
mal Park  District  had  been  organized 
l)revious  to  1910.  and  if  the  trustees 
had  sold  bonds  to  the  limit,  namely 
$120,000  of  5%  bonds  redeemable  in 
20  years,  and  had  they  also  levied  the 
maximum  rate  of  6  mills  for  ordinary 
purposes — if  these  conditions  had  ex- 


isted this  year,  can  it  be  told  exactlv 
how  much  the  total  tax-rate  wouli! 
then  have  been  before  and  after  bein^ 
scaled? 

Ans. — Yes.  The  following  tabb 
shows  these  facts — Rates  per  $100  as 
sesscd  valuation: 


Bloomington   in 

iNCORPORATtD             | 

Bloomington  in 

Bloomington    Town'p 

Town  op 

Normal 

Normal  Township 

Before 

After 

Before 

After 

Before 

After 

Scaling 

Scaling 

Scaling 

Scaling 

Scaling 

Scaling 

$0  ^0 

$0.)0 

S0.?0 

SO.  30 

$0.30 

$0.30 

1~ 

.27 

■)7 

•>•' 

.27 

.27 

.03 

.02 

.04 

.03 

.04 

.03 

city  ttxtt  (ordinary   purposts) 

i.:o 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 

City  tixes   (  bmid  purposes)  .  ■      . . . 

■>'» 

.21 

1.00 

1.00 

.2'* 

.23 

City  taxes  (library  purpaaea 

.12 

.07 

.00 

.00 

.12 

.07 

Park    I  ordinary    purpoaaa 

.60 

.36 

.60 

.36 

.60 

.36 

l*ark  I  bdiid  purpo^e^  '. 

.1" 

.10 

.111 

.lu 

.10 

.10 

School  Icdiicalional    purposes) 

1.36 

1..16 

1.4? 

1.43 

1.36 

1.36 

School  (building  purposti) 

.S4 

34 

.00 

.00 

.34                     .34 

.■<6 

..■*6 

.00 

.00 

.36                     .36 

Totalt 

54.91 

S4.61 

$4.94 

S4.69 

t4.93                S4.62 

16 TlIF,    FACTS    ABOUT    TIIR    PROPOSKD 

Ques.— If  the  park  district  had  been  organized  previous  to  1910,  and 
the  park  board  had  thus  levied  the  maximum  rate  as  given  above,  how  much 
jjreatcr   would   the   taxes   have  been   on  $1,000  of  property? 

Ans. — In  Bloomington.  in  Bloomington  Township,  the  increase  in  taxes 
i.n  $1.(KK)  of  property  would  have  been  64  cents;  in  City  of  Bloomington  in 
Xormal  .Township  the  increase  on  $1,000  of  property  would  have  been  83 
cents;and,  in  tlic  Incorporated  Town  of  Normal  the  increase  in  taxe^  upon 
$1,000  of  property  would  have  been  $1.50. 

Ques.— What  is  the  amount  of  the  tax  on  $1,000  of  property  in  Bloom- 
ington and  in  Xormal  this  year  and  what  would  it  have  been  if  the  maximum 
I)ark    tax    had    been    added? 

Ans. — 

Total  tax  if 
maximum 
Tax  paid  park  tax 

this  year  were  added 

In    Bloomington,    in    Bloomington    Twp $14.73  $15.37 

In    Bloomington,   in    Normal   Twp 14.57  15.40 

In    the    Incorporated    Town,    Normal 14.13  15.63 

Ques. — Is  it  reasonable   to   suppose  Ques. — How  large  a  bond  issue  and 

that  the  Park  Board  would  make  this  how  high  a  tax-rate  for  park  purposes 

maximum  assessment  and  issue  bonds  would    the    Park    Committee    and    the 

to  the  very  limit?  Bloomington  Business  Men's  Associa- 

Ans. — No.  This  is  not  a  reason-  <^'0"  fleem  to  be  probably  advisable? 
able  supposition,  especially  in  light  Ans.— Probably  a  3  mill  tax  for 
of  the  fact  that  other  park  systems  maintenance,  the  same  rate  Bloom- 
have  been  developed  without  going  ington  now  raises  for  all  park  pur- 
thus  to  the  limit.  Moreover,  the  poses,  and  the  issuing  of  $50,000  or 
Bloomington-Normal  Park  District  $75,000  of  bonds  as  soon  as  the  money 
would  begin  with  fairly  good  parks  can  be  advantageously  used  for  the 
to   the   extent   of  about    100  acres.  purchase  of  lands. 

HOW  THE  PROPERTY  IS  DISTRIBUTED  THROUGH  THE 

DISTRICT 

Ques. — What  is  the  total  assessed  both  the  city  of  Bloomington  and  of 
valuation    of    the    proposed    park    dis-       the   Incorporated   Town   of   Normal? 

trict  for  the  year   1910?  »  *o  -iOA  c^n      -n  •     •     t    j  n 

-^  Ans. — $2,384.5.^0.      1  his   includes   all 

Ans. — $12,006,748.  (-.j^,-,^    lands    and    tlie    property    of    the 

Ques.— What  portion  of  this  prop-  railroads, 

(•rty  lic-s  within  the  city  of  Blooming-  Ques.-What.    then,    would    ho    the 

""■  distriliution    of    the    cost    of    tlic    park 

Ans.— $8,338,193.  .ystcm? 

Ques. — What  portion  lies  within  the  Ans. — The    City      of      Bloomington 

Incorporated    Town    of    Normal?  would  bear  about  69'"{ ,  the   Incorpor- 

Ans. — $1,284,025.  :ited  Town  of  Xormal  about  IKv,  and 

the    farm    lands    and    railroads    about 
Ques.— What  portion  lies  outside  of      20%. 


o 


CU 


PQ 


3 
O 

O 


Oh 


O 


O 


0- 


Oh 


o 


B 
B 

CO 


I'.lJ  )(  )MI.\T,TOX  XORMAI.    PARK    DISTRICT 


17 


WHY   BLOOMINGTON  AND   NORMAL  SHOULD  JOIN   HANDS  AND 
DEVELOP  A  JOINT  PARK  SYSTEM 


Ques. — Why  should  Blooniington 
and  N'ormal  join  in  development  of 
parks  any  more  than  in  the  handling 
rif   municipal   afifairs? 

Ans. —  For  the  following  reasons: 

1.  The  city  governments  have  long 
been  established  and  each  city  has  its 
own  system  of  water  supply,  fire  pro- 
tection, street  paving,  etc.,  well  de- 
veloped. 

On  the  other  hand,  while  Blooni- 
ington has  some  parks  fairly  well  de- 
veloped, no  attempt  has  yet  been  made 
to  develop  any  park    system. 

2.  To  everyone  it  is  evident  that 
the  territory  embracing  at  least  the 
two  municipalities  constitutes  a  nat- 
ural unit  for  a  park  system.  Sugar 
Creek  valley  is  an  ideal  connecting 
link,  connecting  the  parks  lying  in 
Bloomington  with  those  lying  in  Nor- 
mal. But  Sugar  Creek  valley  lies  part- 
ly within  Bloomington  and  partly 
within    .\ormal. 

3.  The  law  under  which  it  is  pro- 
posed to  organize  was  written  ex- 
pressly to  enable  two  or  more  nearby 
municipalities,  which  naturally  consti- 
tute a  single  community,  to  thus  unite 
in  developing  a  park  sy>tem.  The 
law  is  just  and  equitable  and  grants 
the  park  board  only  those  powers 
which  are  necessary. 

4.  Since  the  immediately  surround- 
ing farms  are  greatly  increased  in 
value  by  the  healthy,  and  rapid  de- 
velopment of  the  city,  and  since  the 
farmers  living  upon  those  farms  are 
very  frequent  visitors  to  public  parks 
it  is  only  fair  and  just  that  the  near- 
by farms  shall  bear  a  portion  of  the 
burden  of  developing  and  maintain- 
ing  the    park    system. 

5.  Although  the  city  of  Blooming- 
ton  always  extends  a  cordial  invita- 
tion to  the  people  of  Normal  and 
surrounding  country  to  visit  Miller 
Park,  still  it  would  be  only  the  fair 
and  neighborly  thing  for  Normal  and 
the  surrounding  country  to  join  with 
Bloomington  and  develop  a  really  sat- 
isfactory park  system  which  all  could 
own,   maintain   and   enjoy  together. 


Ques. — Do  Normal  people  and  the 
people  from  the  country  now  take 
advantage  of  Bloomington's  invita- 
tion to  enjoy  Miller  Park? 

Ans. — On  some  Sunday  afternoon 
when  a  band  concert  is  to  be  given 
step  aboard  a  Normal  car,  or  drive 
down  and  tind  a  place  for  your  team 
in  the  sheds. 

Ques. — Is  it  possible  for  Normal  to 
develop  or  purchase  a  park  system 
under  the  City  Park  .Xct  under  which 
Bloomington    operates? 

A.— No. 

Q._\Vhy? 

Ans. — The  maximum  amount  of 
park  tax  that  could  be  levied  for 
maintenance  and  operation  would  be 
so  small  that  a  park  system  could 
ntjt  be  maintained. 

Ques. — Since  the  enactment  of  the 
Juul  Law  is  it  possible  under  the  City 
P.irk  .Xct  for  Bloomington  to  further 
develop  her  parks  in  keeping  with 
the  progress  of  the  city  in  all  other 
lines? 

Ans. — No.  Because  the  county  clerk 
will  hereafter  be  compelled  by  law 
to  scale  the  city  park  taxes  at  least 
one-third.  This  would  leave  but  8-10 
of  one  mill  tax  for  the  maintenance 
and  operation  of  the  city's  parks  and 
but  1  2-10  mills  tax  for  the  purchase 
of  new  parks  or  additions  to  parks, 
or  2  mills  for  all   park  purposes. 

Ques. — Before  the  enactment  of  the 
Juul  Law  what  was  the  maximum 
amount  of  taxes  that  could  be  levied 
by  the  city  council  of  the  city  of 
Bloomington   for  park  purposes? 

Ans. — 1.2  mills  for  maintenance  and 
operation.  1.8  mills  for  purchasing 
of  lands  for  new  parks  or  for  addi- 
tions  to   old   parks. 

Ques. — Could  the  park  tax  levied 
by  the  New  Park  District  ever  be- 
come a  burden  upon  the  poor  man 
who  owns  a  little  home  worth,  say 
$1,000.00,  even  if  the  highest  amount 
of  tax  was  levied  and  the  highest 
amount    of   bonds    were    issued? 

Ans. — No. 


18 


THE  FACTS  ABOUT  THE  PROrOSED 


Ques. — Will  you  explain  this  fully? 

Ans. — As  was  said  above  the  great- 
est amount  of  Park  Tax  for  all  park 
purposes  including  bonds,  interest, 
etc.,  that  can  be  collected  after  the 
County  Clerk  has  scaled  the  same 
down  as  he  must  do  by  law  will  never 
exceed  five  mills  (.005)  on  the  dollar 
assessed  valuation  or  1  2-3  mills  on 
the  dollar  actual  value  of  a  man's 
property.  Now  on  a  property  whose 
actual  value  was  $1,000.00,  the  highest 
park  tax  that  could  be  collected  would 
only   be  $1.67. 

Ques. — What  person  is  there  living 
in  Bloomington  or  Normal  owning 
his  own  home  valued  at  not  to  exceed 
$1,000.00  who  would  not  spend  $1.67 
each  year  for  pleasure,  say  theatre, 
entertainments,    etc.? 

Ans. — But,  very  few,  if  any.  It 
must   be   further   borne   in   mind   that 


tills  $1.67  would  only  be  paid  by  the 
head  of  the  family  who  owned  the 
house.  All  the  other  members  who 
owned  no  property  would  come  in 
on  the  one  payment.  Two  circuses  in 
Bloomington  will  take  more  of  the 
people's  money  each  year  than  this 
new  park  tax  vyould  cost  the  citizens 
of   Bloomington. 

Ques. — Would  not  a  large  portion 
of  this  tax  money  for  ordinary  park 
purposes  come  back  to  the  working 
man? 

Ans. — The  greater  portion  of  it 
would  be  paid  back  in  the  form  of 
wages    to    the    workingman. 

Ques. — Judging  from  the  past  and 
from  other  park  systems  about  what 
percent  of  park  taxes  goes  to  pay 
labor? 

Ans.— From  75  to  90%.     . 


USE  OF  SUGAR  CREEK  VALLEY  FOR  PARK  PURPOSES 


Ques. — Is  it  true  that  Sugar  Creek 
valley  is  suitable  land  to  be  worked 
into  a  park  system? 

Ans. — It  is,  without  doubt.  See 
Mr.  Olmstead's  letter,  page  29.  See 
map  of  Indianapolis  and  proposed 
park  system,  also  illustrations  of 
grounds  which  are  to  be  used  for 
park  purposes,  also  extracts  from  the 
report  of  Mr.  Kesler,  their  landscape 
architect,  page  27,  and  the  letter 
from  Mr.  Snyder,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Park   Board   of   Indianapolis. 

Ques. — Wlhat  use  will  be  made  of 
Sugar  Creek  Valley  if  it  is  not  used 
for   parkway   purposes? 

Ans. — It  is  destined  to  be  used  as 
a  dumping  ground  for  a  few  years  and 
then  thinly  built  over  with  small,  in- 


ferior  residences. 

Ques. — In  every  city  such  cheap, 
inexpensive  homes  are  to  be  found. 
Why  not  have  them  in  Sugar  Creek 
valley  as   well  as  any  where? 

Ans. — 1.  For  the  safety  of  Bloom- 
ington's  water  supply,  the  immediate 
banks  of  Sugar  Creek  should  not  be 
built  upon  at  all.  The  wider  the  val- 
ley used  for  park  purpose  only,  the 
better  for  Bloomington's  water  sup- 
ply. 

2.  Since  much  travel  must  pass  be- 
tween the  two  towns,  no  one  wishes 
to  see  the  most  unattractive  portion 
of  the  two  towns  to  lie  directly  on 
the  line  of  travel  between  the  two 
towns. 


SPECIAL  ASSESSMENTS  FOR  PARK  PURPOSES 


Ques. — Has  either  the  Peoria  Park 
District  or  the  Springfield  Park  Dis- 
trict ever  levied  special  assessments 
for  the  development  of  park  proper- 
ty? 

•   Ans. — No,   neither  the   Peoria  Park 
District  nor  the  Springfield  Park  Dis- 


trict   has    ever   levied    special    assess- 
ments. 

Ques. — Why    has    neither    of    these 
districts   done  this? 

Ans. — 1.  Most     of     park     develop- 
ment   is    of    such    a    nature    that    the 


BLOOM [NGTON-NORMAL    PARK    DISTRICT 


19 


special  benefits  are  not  so  great  as 
the  general  benefits.  In  most  of  cases 
it  is  true  that  the  general  public 
ought  to  bear  most  of  the  cost  of  the 
land,  most  of  the  construc.tion  cost 
and  all  of  the  cost  of  maintenance. 

2.  While  the  law  under  which  both 
Peoria  and  Springfield  .ire  operating 
and  under  which  the  proposed  Bloom- 
mgton  and  Normal  district  will  be 
organized  does  provide  for  the  de- 
velopment of  parks  in  part  by  special 
assessments  still  no  special  machin- 
ery is  provided  for  carrying  out  this 
provision. 

Ques. — It  has  been  stated  that  a 
bill  is  now  before  tht  legislature  of 
Illinois  increasing  the  powers  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  Park  Districts 
organized  under  this  Pleasure  Drive- 
way and  Park  District  law.  Is  this 
true? 

Ans. — Senate  Bill  No.  28  is  the  only 
bill  before  the  legislature  having  any 
bearing  upon  this  law.  It  cannot 
truthfully  be  said  that  this  bill,  if  it 
becomes  a  law,  will  increase  the  pow- 
ers of  park  boards  operating  under 
this   law. 

Ques. — Exactly  what  is  the  nature 
of  the  amendment  to  this   park  law? 


Ans.— This  Senate  Bill  No.  28  pro- 
poses four  (4)  definite  additions  to 
the  law,  each  of  which  is  merely  a 
specific  statement  of  a  power  which 
the  law  itself  already  undoubtedly 
gives  the  board  of  trustees.  These 
four  (4)  statements  to  be  added  to 
the  law  are  as  follows: 

1.  The  park  engineer,  the  chairman 
of  the  finance  committee,  and  the 
president  of  the  board  shall  consti- 
tute the  board  of  Local  Improvements 
and  shall  act  without  compensation. 
The  engineer  shall  be  superintendent 
of  special  assessments  and  the  secre- 
tary shall  be  secretary  of  the  board 
of  local  improvements  and  collector 
of  special  assessfnents. 

2.  The  mode  of  making  special  as- 
sessments, and  the  filing  of  the  as- 
sessment roll  shall  be  the  same  as 
provided  by  law  for  making  of  spe- 
cial assessments  in  cities  of  over  50.- 
nOO  inhabitants. 

3.  Power  is  given  the  park  board 
to  expend  money  for  musical  con- 
certs in  the  parks  of  the  district. 

4.  Power  is  given  the  park  board 
to  expend  money  for  the  publication 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  board  once 
each  month  and  the  publishing  of  an 
annual   report. 


SHALL  WE  PLAN  FOR  THE  FUTURE? 


Ques. — What  is  the  object  of  the 
proposition  to  purchase  land  for  a 
park  east  of  Bloomington  and  another 
north  of  Normal? 

Ans. — These  propositions  look  to 
the  future.  It  is  believed  that  for 
from  $20,000.00  to  $30,000.00  two 
tracts  of  fine  land  can  be  secured 
which  would  need  but  little  attention 
for  j'ears  but  which  can  soon  be 
planted  with  trees  according  to  cor- 
rect modern  landscape  ideas,  which 
trees  will  eventually  grow  to  be  the 
pride  of  Bloomington  and  Normal. 
We  must  look  ahead  and  do  something 
for  the  benefit  of  future  generations. 

The  trees  now  in  Franklin  Square 
were  planted  in  1857,  54  years  ago, 
and  it  will  take  at  least  50  years  more 
before  they  will  have  attained  their 
full   growth. 

Miller  Park  was  purchased  in  1887, 


24  years  ago,  and  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  new  trees  planted  in  the  north 
end  of  the  Park  in  1890  are  giving 
evidence  of  thoughtfulness  for  the 
future. 

Ques. — How  will  it  be  possible  for 
the  proposed  park  district  to  help 
protect  the  future  water  supply  of 
Bloomington  without  expense  to  the 
park    district? 

Ans. — It  will  not  be  possible  except 
to  a  limited  extent.  .^ny  drainage 
or  work  needed  exclusively  for  the 
Park,  which  will  be  but  little,  will 
be  paid  for  by  the  Park,  but  any  work 
done  on  Sugar  Creek  exclusively  for 
the  benefit  of  the  water  supply,  which 
will  be  the  most  expensive  portion, 
must  be  paid  for  wholly  by  the  City 
of   Bloomington. 

Ques. — How  rapidly  may  we  expect 


20 


'I' I II'.    I'AC'I'S    AI'.olT    THE    PROPOSED 


park    inii)rovenient.s    to    be    pushed    in 
case  the  park  district  is  authorized? 

Ans. — This  question  can  only  be 
fully  answered  at  some  future  date. 
Judging  by  the  slow  progress  of  im- 
provements in  Franklin  Square  and 
Miller  Park,  for  the  first  few  years 
the  money  exi)ended  will  not  be  for 
perishable  improvements  but  mostly 
in  the  purchase  of  eligible  tracts  for 
future  improvements.  All  money  thus 
expended     will     be    a     valuable     asset 


worth  far  more  than  its  cost,  in  case 
that  for  any  financial  reasons  the 
district  should  at  anj'  future  day  be 
unable  to  proceed  with  improvements. 
That  is,  in  case  of  serious  financial 
depression,  our  purchase  will  be  of 
considerable  cash  value  and  in  case 
of  such  future  prosperity  as  is  at  pres- 
ent indicated,  the  park  improvements 
will  be  worth  to  the  Townships  of 
Xormal  and  Bloomington  many  times 
their   first  cost. 


A  Beautiful  Park  System  Would  be  a  Large  Factor  in  Developing  a  Greater 
And  More  Prosperous  Bloomington  and  Normal 
Ques. — Is   it   true   that   a   park   sys 


teni  would  be  a  paying  investment? 

Ans. — There  can  be  no  question 
about  it.  Bloomington  in  a  large 
measure,  and  Xormal  decidedly  so. 
must  ever  be  regarded  as  a  residen- 
tial center  rather  than  a  manufactur- 
ing center.  For  this  reason,  a  fine 
park  system  would  be  one  of  our 
greatest  assets. 

Ques. — Can  it  be  shown  that  the 
development  of  parks  and  systems  of 
parks  do  actually  aid  in  the  develop- 
ment of  cities? 


Peoria    District    $38,726,300 

Springfield    Di.strict    32.232,075 

Bloomington-Normal    District    — .  24,110.065 


Ans. — Whether  or  not  it  can  be 
shown  that  partes  produce  prosperous 
towns,  it  is  easily  shown  that  pros- 
perous towns  and  well  developed  park 
systems  go  hand  in  hand. 

Ques. — .Are  the  Park  Districts  of 
Peoria  and  Springfield  more  prosper- 
ous than  the  proposed  Bloomington 
and   Xormal    District? 

Ans. — Eet  us  examine  facts. 
The  following  tabic  shows  the  real 
valuation  of  property  within  the  three 
park  districts  in  1894.  and  in  1910  and 
the  percent  increase  in  value  in  those 
16  years. 

1894  1910  .  Per  cent  Inc. 

$66,953,829  n% 

53,817.324  67% 

36.020,244  49% 


Ques. — But  is  it  certain  that  the  development  of  parks  had  any  connec- 
tion with  the  prosperity  of  these  towns? 

Ans. — Possibly  not.  But  let  us  examine  .Springfield's  record  a  little 
farther. 

The  following  table  shows  the  development  in  wealth  of  what  is  now 
the  Springfield  Park  District  for  the  eight  (8)  years  just  preceding  the  or- 
ganization of  the  park  district  and  for  the  eight  (8)  years  just  fallowing  the 
organization   of  the  park  district. 


Real   Valuation  of  the   Springfield   Park   District 


The  8  years  preceding 
the    establishment      of 

Park     District     

The  8  years  following 
the  establishment  of 
Park    District    


1894 


.$32,232,075 


1902 


$39,ono.(inn* 


$39,000,000* 


1910 


$53,817,000 


Percent 
increase 
n  8  years 

21% 

38% 


•  The   County   Clerk   reports   the   exact   figures   for'  1901    and    1902   as   !• 
given    are    approximately   correct.      The    valuation    for    190,'?,    $-10,395,020. 


r.l.oO.MIXr.TOX-XORMAL    PARK    DISTRICT 


21 


DEVELOPMENT  OF  PARK  SYSTEM  WILL  NOT  SERIOUSLY  INTER- 
FERE  WITH    OTHER    PUBLIC    IMPROVEMENTS 


Ques. — Will  not  the  development 
III  the  proposed  park  system  make 
it  necessary  to  cut  out  all  other  im- 
provements? 

Ans. — N'o.  Those  who  favor  the 
organization  of  the  Park  District  do 
not  advocate,  nor  expect  a  park  tax 
of  more  than  about  3  mills  on  the 
dollar  or  30  cents  on  the  $100.  By 
referring  to  the  table  of  tax-rates 
on  page  21  \vc  note  the  following 
facts: 

1.  The  30-cent  rate  would  just 
e^ual    the   State   tax-rate. 

2.  The  30-ccnt  rate  would  just 
equal  1-4  of  the  tax-rate  for  ordinary 
city  purposes,  in  either  Bloomington- 
or    Xormal. 

3.  The  30  cent  rate  would  be  less 
than  1-3  of  the  rate  which  Normal 
raises    for   bond   purposes. 

4.  The  30  cent  rate  would  be  less 
than  1-3  of  the  rate  for  school  pur- 
poses in  Xormal  and  less  than  1-4 
of  the  rate  for  school  purposes  in 
I'.lodinin^'toii 

5  Finally.  The  rate  of  30  cents 
for  Park  purposes,  n  tlu'  Park  Dis- 
trict were  organized  would  hv  less 
than  1  13  of  ilio  entire  rate  for  either 
Bloomington  or  Normal. 

Xo    one    believes    that    such    a    tax- 


rate  for  park  purposes  can  seriously 
interfere  with  other  contemplated 
iniprovcnu-nts. 

Ques. —  Is  there  any  reason  for  be- 
lieving that  the  development  of  parks 
would  make  the  obtaining  of  other 
improvements   easier? 

Ans. — Yes.  Everj'  such  public  im- 
j)rovemcnt  stimulates  the  desire  and 
demand  for  still  other  improvements 
b'lth   public  and   private. 

Ques. —  lUit  will  not"  this  desire  for 
still  other  public  improvements  re- 
>ult    in    increased    tax-rates? 

Ans. — X'ot  necessarily  so.  In  a  live 
and  prosperous  community  the  as- 
sessable property  increases  quite  as 
rapidly  as  the  demand  for  public  im- 
provements. This  means  that  the 
tax-rate  does  not  necessarily  increase 
at  all. 

Well  informed  people  believe  that 
the  increase  in  wealth  within  the  pro- 
posed Bloomington  and  Xormal  Park 
District  would  so  increase  our  "asses- 
ed  valuation"  that  our  tax-rates  would 
be  increased  but  little,  if  at  all,  dur- 
\\\ii  tile  next  in  or  20  year-,  if  we  make 
needed  improvements  including  the 
Park  System. 


CONTROL    OF    STREETS 


Ques. —  L  nder  the  law  is  it  possi- 
ble for  the  park  board  to  exclude  or- 
dinary   traffic    from    parks? 

Ans. — Yes.      They    can. 

Ques. — Is  it  possible  for  the  park 
board  to  exclude  traffic  from  such 
bf>ulcvards  and  pleasure  driveways 
as  may  be  laid  out  and  constructed 
by  the  park  district  for  i)leasure  pur- 
poses? 

Ans. — Ye>.     They   may  do  so. 

Ques. — Is  it  necessary  or  desirable 
that  the  park  board  shall  have  such 
power? 

Ans. —  It  is  without  doubt  a  power 
which  the  park  board  must  possess 
in   order  that   they   may   protect   these 


drives    from    being    ruined.      .Ml    park 
boards   have   this   power. 

Ques. — Ave  drives  through  parks 
and  boulevards  more  likely  to  be 
ruined  by  ordinary  traffic  than  are 
streets  in  our  cities  or  country  roads? 

Ans. —  Park  drives  and  boulevards 
arc  not  ordinarily  constructed  so  as 
to  withstand  the  wear  and  tear  of 
ordinary  traffic.  Xo  teamster  would 
deliver  coal  dressed  in  a  white  shirt 
or  a  dress  suit,  neither  should  he 
expect  to  be  permitted  to  haul  his 
load  over  private  lawns,  through 
parks,  or  on  pleasure  driveways  if  this 
act  is  to  result  in  the  ruin  of  private 
or  public  property. 


22 


T[IE    FACTS    ABOUT    THE    PROPOSED 


Qucs.— Could  the  park  board  take 
possession  of  a  city  street,  either 
paved  or  unpaved,  without  the  con- 
sent  of  the   city  authorities? 

Ans. — No.  The  park  board  cannot 
secure  any  control  over  any  city  or 
village  street  unless  the  city  council 
or  village  board  shall  first  by  ordi- 
nance turn  the  street  over  to  the  park 
board. 

Ques. — Would  the  park  board  be 
likely  to  desire  control  of  many 
streets? 

Ans.— No.  The  park  board  would 
probably  be  unwilling  to  accept  con- 
trol  of  any   street  unless   that   street 


could  be  used  as  a  connecting  link  in 
the  park  system. 

Ques. — Why  should  the  park  board 
hesitate  to  accept  control  of  a  street? 

Ans. — Because,  after  they  have  once 
accepted  it  they  must  then  maintain 
it,  light  it,  and  police  it.  All  this 
means  expense  which  the  city  or  vil- 
lage otherwise  has  to  meet. 

Ques. — Has  this  condition  ever 
arisen   or  is  it  theory? 

Ans. — Springfield  and  the  Spring- 
field park  district  have  had  experience 
along  this  line. 


The  Case  of  South  Grand  Avenue,  Springfield 


From  the  organization  of  the  Park 
District  a  plan  existed  of  securing 
parks  in  each  of  the  four  sections  of 
the  city  and  then  some  time  connect- 
ing these  parks  by  means  of  boule- 
vards or  pleasure  drives.  Early  in 
1902  the  property  owners  along  South 
Grand  Avenue  opened  negotiations 
with  both  the  City  Council  of  Spring- 
field and  the  Park  Board  looking 
towards  the  transfer  of  that  street 
from  the  control  of  the  city  to  the 
control  of  the  Park  Board,  thus  mak- 
ing it  the  first  link  of  the  system  of 
proposed  boulevards. 

The  Park  Board  finally  adopted  a 
resolution  declaring  that  they  would 
accept  the  control  of  the  street,  pro- 
vided that  the  property  owners  and 
city  of  Springfield  would  first  pave  it 
and  construct  concrete  sidewalks  ac- 
cording to  the  directions  of  the  Park 
Board.  This  was  done  and  eleven 
(IIV  months  later  the  City  Council 
by  ordinance  turned  over  to  the  con- 


trol of  the  Park  District  a  strip  thir- 
ty-seven (37)  feet  wide,  being  from 
curb  line  to  curb  line,  and  about  one 
and  one-half  (1  1-2)  miles  in  length. 
Three  years  later  arrangements  were 
made  by  which  the  city  turned  over  to 
the  control  of  the  Park  District  the 
rest  of  the  street,  being  the  strips 
from  the  curb  line  to  the  property 
line  on  each  side  of  the  street. 

Ques. — Granting  that  the  city  coun- 
cil of  any  city  may  withhold  control 
of  all  streets  from  the  Park  Board, 
may  not  condition  arise  which  will 
make  it  advisable  that  certain  streets 
be  so  turned  over  to  the  Park  Board 
and  would  they  not  then  be  able  to 
exclude  all  ordinary  traflfic  from  such 
streets? 

Ans. — This  is  not  necessarily  so. 
This  question  is  answered  by  the  ex- 
perience of  the  Villages  of  Peoria 
Heights   and    Averyville. 


The  Case  of  Grand  View  Boulevard,  Peoria 


From  the  date  of  organization  the 
people  of  Peoria  planned  to  construct 
a  grand  boulevard,  or  pleasure  drive, 
from  the  edge  of  the  city  to  the  high 
lands  to  the  north  known  as  Pros- 
pect Heights.  After  several  years 
land  was  secured  and  the  boulevard 
constructed.      This    boulevard,    how- 


ever, passed  through  the  villages  of 
.Averyville  and  Peoria  TTciglits.  Tii 
granting  the  Park  District  the  use 
of  certain  streets  both  villages,  Av- 
eryville and  Peoria  Heights,  specifi- 
cally reserved  the  right  to  use  those 
portions  of  the  boulevard  for  traffic 
purposes.    The  Park  District  accepted 


RLOOMIN'GTON-XORMAL    PARK    DISTRICT 


23 


these  grants  of  streets  "subject  to  the 
limitations  imposed  by  said  ordi- 
nances." 

Ques. — Does  the  record  of  either 
I'eoria  or  Springfield  anywhere  indi- 
cate that  there  has  ever  been  any 
disagreement  between  the  Park  Dis- 
trict and  either  the  city  or  the  people 
who   use   the   streets? 

Ans. — No.  Nor  does  diligent  in- 
quiry reveal  the  fact  that  any  such 
disagreement   has   ever   occurred. 

Ques. — Does  not  the  law  grant  the 
Park  Board  the  right  to  construct  a 
boulevard    out    into    the    country   and 


even    close    country   roads    to    traffic? 

Ans. — 1.  It  is  inconceivable  that 
any  Board  of  Park  Trustees  should 
ever  consider  such  an  unreasonable 
proposition. 

2.  There  is  not  the  slightest  doubt 
as  to  the  decision  of  the  courts  in 
regard  to  the  powers  of  the  Park 
Board  were  they  to  attempt  to  close 
a  country  road  to  traffic  or  convert  it 
into  a  fancy  boulevard  levying  spe- 
cial assessments  against  adjoining 
farms  to  pay  for  the  same. 

No  Court  would  sustain  the  Park 
Board  in  either  case. 


Interpretation  of  the  Law 


Ques. — In  a  recent  open  discussion 
nf  the  park  question  a  local  attorney 
was  quoted  as  saying  that  the  law 
grants  the  park  board  the  power  to 
seize  a  country  highway,  pave  it,  levy- 
ing assessments  against  adjacent 
farm  lands  to  pay  for  the  same,  and 
finally  to  close  that  highway  to  or- 
dinary  traffic.      I^   this   so? 

Ans. — The  interpretation  of  any 
law  found  upon  our  statute  b<)(.k<  i- 


not  delegated  to  any  attorney  or  any 
other  citizen.  That  power  rests  with 
the  courts,  lastly  with  the  -supreme 
court  of  the  state.  Until  the  supreme 
court  of  Ilhnois  has  passed  upon  the 
interpretation  of  this  law.  it  is  of 
course,  possible  for  any  citizen  to 
put  his  own  interpretnfion  upon  the 
law.  These  personal  opinions  vary 
greatly  in  value.  Against  the  opin- 
ion  of  the  local  attorney  we   find 


The  Opinion  of  Attorney  Whiting  of  Peoria 


Attorney  W.  T.  Whiting  of  Peoria, 
was  in  a  large  measure  the  author 
and  father  of  the  park  law  under 
which  Rloomington  and  Normal  will 
organize.  For  more  than  16  years, 
ever  since  the  Peoria  District  was 
organized,  Mr.  Whiting  has  been  the 
.Tttorney  for  the  Peori.i  park  district. 
Mr.  Whiting  flatly  denies  that  it  was 
ever  the  intention  of  that  law  to  grant 
such  powers  to  the  park  trustees.  He 
holds  that  should  any  park  district 
trustees  ever  desire  to  secure  posses- 
sion of  any  streets  in  any  city  or  of 
any  country  highway,  all  of  which  is 
most  improbable,  that  the  authorities 
in  control  of  those  streets  or  high- 
ways would  have  full  and  complete 
power  to  refuse  granting  such  request 
or  to  grant  such  request  writh  such 
limitations  as  they  might  see  fit  to 
impose. 

Ques. — Should  this  question  ever 
come  before  the  supreme  court  would 
that  court  necessarily  pass  upon   the 


constitutionality  or  unconstitutional- 
ity of  the  law  only  or  might  thcic  de- 
cision he  merely  of  the  nature  of  an 
interpretation  of  the  meaning  of  the 
law? 

Ans. — The  question  might  come  be- 
fore the  court  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
call  for  a  decision  as  to  the  constitu- 
tionality of  the  law.  or  it  might  come 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  call  simply 
for  an  interpretation  of  the  law.  For 
example: 

The  decision  of  the  supreme  court 
interpreting  the  Juul  law  relative  to 
the  ':calinp  down  of  taxes  (People  of 
State  of  Illinois  ex  rel.  TTenry  Weber 
vs.  C.  ct  E.  r.  R.  R.  Co.)  referred  to 
nn  page  14.  did  not  involve  in  any 
way  the  constitutionality  of  that  law: 
that  decision  merely  interprets  the 
meaning  of  the  law.  The  constitu- 
tionality of  that  law  has  been  passed 
upon  in  two  other  decisions,  namelv 
Booth  vs.  Opel,  244  111..  317,  and 
Town  of  Cicero  vs.  Haas.  244  id.  551. 


24 


'11 II'     J'ACTS    ABOUT    THE    TROrOSED 


SPECIAL     ASSESSMENT 

Ques. — Is  the  power  granted  the 
Park  Board  of  levying  special  assess- 
ments aj^ainst  property  to  help  pay 
for  parks,  parkways,  and  boulevards 
a  just  provision  of  the  lavv? 

Ans. — It  is  a  just  and  equitable  fea- 
ture of  the  law.  It  is  only  right  and 
just  that  property,  especially  lands, 
very  near  such  parks  and  parkways 
shall  be  made  to  bear  a  portion  of 
the  expense  of  purchase  and  improve- 
ment since  such  property  is  decidedly 
increased  in  value  and  becomes  de- 
cidedly more  salable  as  a  result  of 
the  establishment  of  the  park,  park- 
way or  boulevard. 

Ques.— What  portion  of  the  entire 
cost  of  such  an  improvement  can  be 
assessed  ajjainst  private  property  as 
special   benefits? 

Ans. — This  question  can  only  be 
answered  in  general  terms.  It  would 
be  impossible  to  assess  against  any 
property  an  amount  which  exceeds 
the  actual  benefits  accruing  to  the 
property. 

SPECIAL  ASSESSMENTS 
Ques. — Does  not  the  law  give  the 
l>ark  board  power  not  only  to  desig- 
nate streets,  avenues,  roads,  boule- 
vards or  highways  which  are  to  be- 
come pleasure  driveways,  but  does 
not  the  law  also  grant  the  Park 
Board  the  power  to  open,  alter,  wid- 
en, extend,  grade,  pave  or  otherwise 
improve  and  maintain  such  streets, 
roads,  avenues,  etc.,  and  pay  for  the 
same  by  levying  special  assessments? 
Does  not  this  law  give  the  Park 
Board   almost   unlimited   power? 

Ans. — This  question  has  received  au 
answer  from  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Illinois  in  a  decision  rendered  during 
the  February  term,  1911.  (South  Park 
Commissioners  vs.  Myron  L.  Pearce 
et  al.)  The  South  Park  Commis- 
sioners, acted  under  authority  of  the 
law  fif  1895 — which  law  states  that 
"such  board  of  park  commissioners 
or  park  authorities  shall  have  power 
•  to  improve  such  street  or  streets,  or 
part  thereof,  in  such  manner  as  they 
may  deem  best  and  fur  tliat  purpose 
they,  are  hereby  authori/,ed  to  pay 
for  the  improvement  therof  by  levy- 


FEATURE  OF  THE  LAW. 

Ques. — What  redress  may  be  had 
against  an  unjust  special  assessment 
made  by  the  Park  Board. 

Ans. —  Exactly  the  same  redress 
that  may  be  had  against  an  unjust 
^l)ecial  assessment  made  by  a  city  for 
an  improvement  such  as  a  water 
main,  a  sewer,  or  a  pavement. 

Special  assessments  made  for  park 
improvements  must  be  levied  in  ex- 
actly the  same  manner  and  under  the 
same  law  as  any  city  special  assess- 
ment. 

Ques. — How  far  back  from  the  park 
improvement  can  assessments  be 
made    for   special   benefits? 

Ans. — This  depends  entirely  upon 
the  sfjccial  conditions  of  the  case. 
The  important  fact  is  that  the  special 
benefits  must  equal  or  exceed  the 
amount  of  the  assessment  and  this 
fact  must  be  capable  of  proof.  In 
this  fact  lies  the  manifest  justness  and 
equity  of  the  law. 

MUST  BE  REASONABLE 

ing,  assessing  and  collecting  a  spe- 
cial tax  on  contigious  property  or 
special  assessment  on  property  bene- 
fited." The  Park  Commissioners  re- 
paved  certain  streets  belonging  to  the 
Park  System  paying  for  the  same  by 
levying  special  assessments  against 
property  which  the  Park  Board  claim- 
ed to  be  specially  benefited.  The  prop- 
erty owner  objected  to  the  assess- 
ment on  the  ground  that  the  street 
had  previously  been  paved,  before  be- 
coming a  part  of  the  park  system.  It 
was  further  claimed  that  the  neces- 
sity for  repaving  was  merely  the 
necessity  of  widening  the  street,  cut- 
ting down  the  grade  and  in  general 
making  it  correspond  to  boulevard 
standard  and  boulevard  ideals. 

The  Supreme  Court  held  that  it 
was  unreasonable  to  assess  private 
property  for  such  improvements.  If 
puch  improvements  are  deemed  best 
for  public  interest,  it  is  only  reason- 
able that  it  be  done  at  public  expense. 
SiH-rial  assessments  must  be  reason- 
able and  all  powers  granted  the  park 
board    niust   be    reasonably   exercised. 


o 

a 

c 


i 

ll 
Oh 

c 

3 


(li 


BT.OOMINGTOX-XORMAL    PARK    DISTRICT 


25 


PARK  TRUSTEES  SHOULD  BE  APPOINTED,  NOT  ELECTED 


Ques.— Mow  is  the  Park  Board  to 
be  selected  if  the  Park  District  is 
organized? 

Ans. — The  voters  decide  whether 
the  trustees  shall  be  appointed  or 
elected. 

Ques. —  If  appointed,  who  appoints 
the   trustees? 

Ans. — A  committee  of  three,  being 
two  of  the  circuit  judges  of  this 
judicial  district  and  the  county  judge 
of  McT.ean  County. 

Ques. — Is  there  any  advantage  in 
having  the  members  of  the  Park 
F^oard  appointed  instead  of  being 
elected? 

Ans. — 1.  It  is  generally  believed 
that  there  would  be  little  or  no  dan- 


ger of  the  Board  becoming  political 
if  the  members  are  appointed.  The 
law  provides  that  no  more  than  four 
members  may.  in  that  case,  be 
from  one  political  party. 

2.  If  the  members  are  appointed  the 
district  is  saved  several  hundred  dol- 
lars of  election  expenses  each  year. 
The  first  15  elections  have  cost  the 
Peoria  District  $15,691.40  or  a  little 
ovei-  $1,000  each  year.  The  first  7 
elections  cost  the  Springfield  District 
$3,075.29.  or  an  average  of  $468  each 
year. 

Ques. —  if  a  voter  wishes  to  vote  for 
organization  of  the  district  and  also 
for  the  appointment  of  the  trustees, 
how  shall  he  mark  his  ballot? 

Ans. — 


Shall   the  Bloomington  and  Normal  Pleas- 
ure Driveway  and  Park  District  be 
Organized? 

YES 

X 

NO 

For  the  Appointment  of  Park  iTrustees 

YES 

X 

Against  the  Appointment  of  Park  Trustees 

NO 

26  THE    FACTS    ABOUT    THE    PROPOSED 


HOW  INDIANAPOLIS  SOLVES  BLOOMINGTON'S  PARK  PROBLEM 

In  March,  1909,  Indiana  adopted  a  new  park  law  applicable  to  Indian- 
apolis.    The  new  law  provides  among  other  things: 

1.  For  a  park   board  of  four  members  who  serve  without  pay. 

2.  The  board  has  power:  to  condemn  property  needed  for  park  pur- 
poses. 

3.  To  develop  park  property  by  levying  assessments  against  property 
specially   benefited   thereby. 

4.  To  establish  a  building  line  outside  of  park  limits,  or  along  any 
parkway   or  boulevard. 

Indianapolis  immediately  organized  under  this  act  and  began  to  re- 
create their  park  system.  The  city  had  several  isolated  parks  but  there 
being  no  connection  between  them  or  evident  continuity  of  purpose,  the 
city  could  hardly  be  said  to  have  a  park   system  at  all. 

Their  plan  of  reorganization  and  development  of  a  real  park  system 
is  so  well  shown  by  the  accompanying  map  and  extracts  from  the  land- 
scape architect's  report,  that  no  extended  comment  is   needed  here. 

The  important  point  to  be  noted  is  that  the  conditions  existing  in  In- 
dianapolis are  not  dissimilar  to  those  existing  in  Bloomington  and  Normal 
and  that  the  solution  actually  being  applied  by  the  Indianapolis  authorities 
is  exactly  the  solution  proposed  by  the  Park  Committee  of  the  Bloomington 
Business  Men's  Association. 

OKPARTMCNT     OF 

RUBI-IC     PARKS 

INOIANAROI.I8,     IND. 

March    18,    1911. 
MR.  FRED.  D.  BARBER, 

Normal,  Illinois. 
Dear   Sir: — 

The  reason  why  the  Board  of  Park  Commis- 
sioners has  undertaken  an  improvement  of  the 
streams  and  their  low  lying  banks  for  park  pur- 
poses, rather  than  to  use  higher  ground,  is  simply 
that  the  Board  has  felt  the  importance  of  preserv- 
'  ing  the   streams   throughout   the    City.      You    know, 

as  does  everyone  who  has  given  municipal  problems 
much  thought,  that  a  smal?  stream  in  a  city  or  town 
that  remains  in  private  hands,  in  nine  cases  out 
of  ten  becomes  an  unsanitary  and  unsightly  feature 
of  the  landscape,  not  only  offensive  to  good  taste 
and  love  for  the  picturesque,  but  a  source  of  disease 
and  danger  to  the  health  of  the  community.  That 
is  one  of  the  considerations.  The  other  is  that  in 
Indianapolis  these  streams  offer  the  most  available 
feature  of  our  landscape  along  which  to  build  a 
system  of  parkways  and  park  drives  that  will  give 
local  parks  to  practically  every  section  of  the  City, 
and  will  at  the  same  time  serve  to  tie  together  the 
whole  scheme  of  park  things  into  a  unified  system. 

Yours    very    truly, 
LEROY  E.  SNYDER, 
Secretary   Board  of  Park   Commissioners. 


BLOOMlNGTQN-NQRiMAL    I'ARK    DISTRICT 27 

EXTRACTS  FROM  REPORT 

OF    GEO.    E.    KESLER,    LANDSCAPE    ARCHITECT,    TO    BOARD    OF 

PARK  COMMISSIONERS,  INDIANAPOLIS,  1909 


FIRST   PERIOD   OF   PARK   DEVELOPMENT 

"The  period  of  park  development  prior  to  1908,  the  time  of  the  reor- 
ganization of  your  entire  work,  accomplished  many  excellent  things  in  the 
acquisition  of  splendid  park  properties.  This  was  evidently  an  expression  of 
feeling  tlie  need  of  places  of  recreation.  It  is  true  that  these  efforts  were  all 
sporadic,  without  continuity  or  connection,  and  with  only  an  indifferent  un- 
derstanding of  the  uses  that  a  community  has  for  recreation  grounds,  or  its 
specitic  needs  in  its  different  units.  However,  the  properties  were  acquired 
and  at  least  partly  improved.  But  the  rate  of  growth  of  the  city  went  far  in 
advance  of  the  acquisition  and  improvement  of  properly  situated  park  or 
parkway  lands,  and  a  certain  measure  of  neglect  in  this  respect  becomes  costly 
now  in  the  second  period  or  new  era  of  the  city's  development. 

SECOND  PERIOD  OF  PARK  DEVELOPMENT 

"Vou  are  now  facing,  in  the  second  period  of  your  park  development, 
the  recreative  era  of  your  city  planning — the  imperative  need  of  unifying  and 
tying  together  the  different  and  widely  separated  districts  of  the  city.  The 
salient  and  most  important  portion  of  the  present  movement  in  the  recreation 
of  beautiful  Indianapolis  is  based  upon  the  existence  of  streams  flowing  through 
the  city.  Vuu  are  wise  in  yuur  conclusions  to  adopt  the  idea  oi  consecutive 
improvement  along  the  principal  streams,  creating  a  chain  of  parka  of  the 
very  highest  usefulness  through  long  reaches  of  residential  districts.  Fortu- 
nately tiiese  streams  lie  in  directions  which,  as  an  incident  to  park  develop- 
ment along  their  shores,  serve  as  the  liiicst  and  most  direct  lines  of  roadway 
communication.  And,  while  the  fundamental  importance  oi  local  recreation 
grounds  is  emphasized,  the  incident  of  line  driveways  will  in  time  become  that 
element  which  will  surprise  and  gratify  your  own  people  in  leading  them  into 
the  real  beauty  spots  of  the  city,  and  become  an  element  of  advertising  value 
which  will  more  than  compensate  for  all  expenditures  in  their  establishment. 

"Kansas  City  permitted  its  park  department  to  build  up  its  boulevards 
encircling  and  passing  through  the  city,  and  permitted  the  acquisition  and  im- 
provement of  lands  which  were  characteristic  of  its  topography.  That  com- 
munity has  become  proud  of  its  development,  and  in  the  latter  years  has  re- 
ceived perhaps  even  more  than  its  share  of  iavorablc  comment  from  its  resi- 
dents and  visitors.  A  justification  for  such  favorable  comments  lies  merely 
in  the  use  of  properties  characteristic  to  that  region,  and  the 
keynote  of  the  iinproveiiiciit  of  those  properties  has  been  the  con- 
serving of  the  natural  and  characteristic  beauties  there.  Exactly  the  same 
results  may  be  and  cire  being  attained  here  by  your  Department  in  the  ac- 
quirement and  development  of  your  stream  banks — the  essentially  characteris- 
tic ieaturcs  in  Indianapolis.  W  ith  the  banks  oi  tliese  streams  so  easily  beauti- 
lied,  there  is  provided  the  rarest  opportunity  for  the  development  of  the  high- 
est class  of  residential  property,  the  value  of  which  alone  can  not  be  overem- 
phasized. 

"The  most  important  feature,  however,  of  these  chains  of  parks,  and 
entirely  aside  from  their  transformation  from  ash  dumps  and  other  unsightly 
things,  into  places  of  real  beauty,  is  the  fact  that  you  are  at  the  same  time 
establishing  a  continuous  line  of  outdoor  recreation  and  local  playgrounds 
thereon.  All  these  become  far  more  accessible  to  a  very  much  larger  population, 
and   especially   to   that   subdivision   of  population   most   in   need   of  such   prop- 


28  TIIK    FACTS    A  ROUT    THE    PROPOSED 


crtics,  than  the  really  valuable  local  parks  which  had  previously  existed.  This 
is  most  thoroughly  exemplified  in  the  improvement  along  Progues  Run. 
(See  illustrations.)  Like  an  unfinished  picture,  the  many  and  widely  separated 
units  of  your  present  park  system  are  only  locally  appreciated.  The  parks  are 
practically  unknown  to  the  great  majority  of  your  public,  and  will  so  remain 
until  they  are  all  tied  together  by  means  of  these  stream  parkways  and  by 
boulevards  encircling  the  outer  rim  of  the  city." 


EXTRACTS  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  OLMSTEAD  BROS. 

"This  letter  was  originally  written  by  Mr.  John  Olmstead  to  the  Board 
of  Park  Commissioners  of  Portland,  Oregon,  on  December  31,  1903,  but  it 
treats  the  great  question  of  the  importance  of  parks  to  a  community,  the  du- 
ties of  citzens  toward  parks,  and  the  best  methods  of  improving  and  main- 
taining a  Park  System  in  such  a  broad  and  comprehensive  manner  that  it  is 
equally  applicable  to  the  city  of  Bloomington.  The  firm  of  Olmstead  Bros. 
is  acknowledged  to  be  at  the  head  of  the  profession  of  Landscape  Architects 
in  this  country,  and  since  its  foundation  more  than  fifty  years  ago  by  Fred- 
rick Law  Olmstead,  Sr.,  has  had  charge  of  some  of  the  most  important  work 
in  this  country,  including  the  Metropolitan  Park  System  of  Boston,  Central 
Park  of  New  York,  The  South  Park  System  of  Chicago,  and  finally  the 
Park  System  of  Portland,  Oregon.  Any  article,  therefore,  emanating  from 
such  a  firm  of  acknowledged  experts  is  worthy  of  the  most  respectful  con- 
sideration." Bloomington  Business  Men's  Association. 

By  Special  Committee. 
OLMSTEAD  BROS. 

LANDSCAPE   ARCHITECTS 
BROOKUINE,    MASS. 

INTRODUCTION 

IMPORTANCE  OF  MUNICIPAL  PARKS 
Leading  writers    and    other   authorities    on    modern    municipal    develop- 
ment agree  that  no  city  can  be  considered  properly  equipped  without  an  ade- 
quate park  system. 

All  agree  that  parks  not  onlj'-  add  to  the  beauty  of  a  city  and  to  the 
pleasure  of  living  in  it.  but  are  exceedingly  IMPORTANT  FACTORS  IN  DE- 
VELOPING THE  HEALTHFULNESS,  MORALITY,  INTELLIGENCE. 
.\ND  BUSINESS  PROSPERITY  of  its  residents.  Indeed  it  is  not  too  much 
to  say  that  a  liberal  provision  of  parks  in  a  city  is  one  of  the  surest  manifes- 
tations of  the  intelligence,  degree  of  civilization  and  PROGRESSIVENESS 
OF  ITS  CITIZENS. 

In  order  to  determine  upon  a  comprehensive  system  of  parks,  it  is  first 
necessary  to  define  and  classify  the  various  units  of  which  the  system  is  to 
be  composed,  even  though  it  may  not  be  practicable  to  carry  out  these  ideas 
in  all  cases.  The  units  of  a  park  system  generally  recognized  are  city  squares, 
play  grounds,  small  or  neighborhood  parks,  large  or  surburban  parks,  scenic 
reservations,  boulevards,  and  parkways. 

THE  PARKS  OF  A  CITY  SHOULD  BE  PARTS  OF  A  SYSTEM 

If  a  city  is  to  have  parks,  a  careful  study  of  the  problem  will  convince 
any  student  of  municipal  development  that  the  parks  should  be  acquired  in 
accordance  with  a  general  system.  Many  cities  have  one  or  more  parks  in 
which   their   citizens   may  justly   take   pride,   but   comparatively  few   of   these 


r.L()(  ).\1  I. \(;T0.\  NORMAL    I'ARK    DISTRICT  29 


cities  have  what  can  be  properly  called  a  oomprehensive,  well-balanced  and 
well-developed  system  of  parks,  a  system  which  will  compare  favorably  as  to 
completeness  with,  for  instance,  the  system  of  public  schools,  or  the  system 
of  fire  protection  and  other  principal  departments  of  the  city  government. 

The  backwardness  of  municipal  park  systems  is  not  so  much  due  to 
lack  of  public  intelligence  and  public  spirit  as  to  a  defective  development  of 
the  love  of  beauty  as  compared  with  a  well-developed  appreciation  of  practical 
utilitarian    progress. 


PARK  SYSTEMS  SHOULD  BE  WELL  BALANCED 

The  various  social  and  topographical  sections  of  a  city  should  be  suita- 
bly supplied  with  the  various  unit^;  of  a  system  accf>rding  to  their  needs  and 
natural  upportunities.  It  not  infrequently  happens  that  the  sections  of  a 
city  in  which  the  population  is  most  dense  and  most  in  need  of  scjuarcs.  play 
grounds  and  local  parks,  are  almost  wholly  devoid  of  these  advantage-,  be- 
cause no  well-balanced  system  has  been  devised  and  carried  out  while  land 
was  sufficiently  cheap  and  comparatively  unoccupied  so  that  now  the  e.xpense 
i-,  ])rohibitory. 

PARKS  SHOULD  BE  CONNECTED  AND  APPROACHED  BY  BOULE- 
VARDS AND  PARKWAYS 

A  connected  system  of  parks  and  parkways  is  manifestly  far  more 
com|)lctc  and  useful  than  a  series  of  isolated  parks. 


PARKS  AND  PARKWAYS  SHOULD  BE  LOCATED  AND  IMPROVED 

TO  TAKE  ADVANTAGE  OF  BEAUTIFUL  NATURAL  SCEN-' 

ERY  AND  TO  SECURE  SANITARY  CONDITIONS. 

In  addition  to  taking  advantage  of  beautiful  natural  scenery,  parks  and 
parkways  may  often  be  located  so  as  to  secure  very  important  sanitary  atl- 
vantages  through  the  improvement  of  ill-drained  areas,  particularly  low-lying 
lands  along  rivers  subject  to  floods.  Marked  economy  in  municipal  devclop- 
niciit  may  alsi>  be  effected  by  laying  out  parkways  and  parks,  while  land  is 
cheap,  so  as  to  embrace  streams  that  carry  at  times  mi>re  water  than  can  he 
taken  care  of  by  dr.iin  pipes  of  ordinary  size.  Thus  brooks  or  little  rivers 
which  would  otherwise  become  nuisances  that  would  some  day  have  to  be 
put  in  large  underground  conduits  at  enormous  expense,  may  be  made  the  oc- 
casion for  delightful  local  pleasure  grounds  or  attractive  parkways.  Such  im- 
provements add  greatly  to  the  value  of  adjoining  properties,  which  would 
otherwise  have  been  depreciated  by  the  erection  f»n  the  low  lands  of  the 
chcai^est  class  of  dwellings  or  by  ugly  factories,  stables  and  other  com- 
mercial   establishments. 

PARK    SYSTEMS    SHOULD    BE    IN    PROPORTION   TO 
OPPORTUNITIES 

A  city  having  many  or  extensive  opportunities  for  parks  and  parkways 
should  promptly  avail  it-elf  of  them  provided  there  i«  a  reasonable  probability 
of  attracting  to  it-eif  thereby  well-to-do  and  wealthy  families,  becau-e  such 
improvements  tend  to  draw  to  the  city  wealth,  the  taxation  of  which  may 
more  than  repay  the  city  for  the  outlay. 


30  THE    FACTS    ABOUT    THE    PROPOSFD 

THE  LAND  FOR  PARK  SYSTEMS  SHOULD  BE  PAID  FOR  BY 
LONG-TERM  LOANS 

There  is  a  very  commendable  disinclination  on  the  part  of  leprislatures 
to  pass  laws  atithorizinp  lonj?  term  municipal  loans  and  in  favor  of  keeping 
a  comparatively  low  limit  on  the  total  amount  of  which  cities  are  allowed 
to  borrow.  But  the  case  of  loans  for  purchase  of  land,  especially  land  for  a 
park  system  is  very  decidedly  different  from  that  of  loans  for  most  other 
municipal  improvements.  It  is  unwise  for  cities,  as  for  business  men  and 
corporations,  to  borrow  more  than  a  safe  fraction  of  their  marketable  assets 
or  so  much  that  the  interest  and  annual  sinking?  fund  payments  will  be 
possibly  jrreater  than  the  sure  income  applicable  to  these  purposes  durinp: 
periods  of  industrial  depression.  Still  more  fundamental  is  the  principle  that 
money  should  not  be  borrowed  unless  it  can  be  profitably  employed.  Tn  the 
case  of  money  borrowed  for  the  acquisition  of  park  land  it  should  be  borne 
in  mind  that  the  land  is  an  asset  that  will  be  worth  more  in  almost  every 
instance  by  the  time  the  loan  becomes  payable,  than  the  amount  of  the  loan. 


PARK   SYSTEMS   SHOULD   BE  IMPROVED   BY  MEANS   OF   LOANS. 
SPECIAL    ASSESSMENTS    AND    ANNUAL    TAXATION 

The  experience  of  the  larger  cities  has  been  that  by  far  the  most  sat- 
isfactory and  profitable  results  have  been  obtained  by  improving  their  parks 
as  rapidly  as  such  diflRcult  and  complex  work  can  wisely  be  effected,  usually  in 
from  three  to  five  years  after  the  acquisition  of  the  land,  depending  upon 
various  circumstances,  but  mainly  upon  the  prospect  of  a  consequent  rapid 
rise  in   the  values   of  adjoining  lands. 

In  the  case  of  land,  only  part  of  which  is  taken,  the  benefit  and  damage 
should  be  considered  at  the  same  time  and  the  award  or  assessment  should 
be  for  the  balance  between  the  two  only. 


PARK  SYSTEMS  SHOULD  BE  GOVERNED  BY  QUALIFIED 

OFFICIALS 

Experience  proves  that  the  most  successful  government  of  important 
park  svstems  is  by  a  small  board  of  unpaid  park  commissioners  *  *  * 
who  should  be  APPOTXTED  for  long,  over-lapped  terms,  and  should  usually 
be  repeatedly  appointed.  Park  commissioners  should  be  appointed  by  some 
authority  as  little  concerned  with  local  politics  as  possible,  and  yet  suffi- 
cientlv  widelv  and  well  acquainted  with  the  best  educated  class  of  citizens  t? 
be  able  to  select  those  best  fitted  for  the  duties  of  park  commissioners.  The 
board  should  be  financially  independent  of  the  city  government  and  should 
work   harmoniously    with    other    city    departments. 

In  general,  the  board  should  leave  planning  to  competent  experts  and 
the  execution  of  plans,  including  the  selection  of  subordinates,  to  an  effi- 
cient and  specially  trained  superintendent,  so  far  as  his  capacity,  theoretical 
knowledge  and  practical  experience  makes  it  safe  to  do  so.  The  commis- 
sioners should,  of  course,  keep  sufficiently  familiar  with  the  work  to  intelli- 
gently pass  upon  all  questions  brought  before  them  at  their  meetings,  but 
they  should  not  individually  direct  work,  nor  give  orders.  Fortunately  itis 
a  healthful  and  more  or  less  recreative  task  for  park  commissioners  to  in- 
spect parks.       *     *     *. 


BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL    PARK    DISTRICT  31 

PARK  SYSTEMS  SHOULD  BE  MANAGED  INDEPENDENTLY  OF 
CITY   GOVERNMENT 

It  has  been  demonstrated  by  experience  in  many  cities  that  the  park 
system  more  than  any  other  of  the  undertakings  of  a  city  should  be  manaE:ed 
independently  of  the  Common  Council  or  Legislative  Body  of  the  City  Gov- 
ernment.    *     *     * 

Parks  should  not  be  brnupht  into  politics  not  nnlv  for  the  important 
hiisincss  reasons  that  apply  in  all  departments  of  municipal  administratinn, 
hut  for  the  more  important  reason  that  the  essential  requirement  of  parks 
is  that  they  should  he  naturally  and  artistically  beautiful  and  because  politi- 
cians as  a  class  jjive  small  consideration  to  matters  of  art  and  beauty  of 
natural  scenerv  and  care  less  whenever  they  conflict  with  their  business  in- 
terests. The  schools  may  not  be  beautiful,  but  yet  may  serve  all  practical 
purposes:  brirl;;es  may  be  and  usually  are  hideous,  but  we  can  use  them  and 
hope  for  better  thinps  some  day,  but  if  parks  are  not  beautiful,  they  are  very 
nearly   useless. 

Politicians,  as  a  class,  work  as  hard  for  power  and  pecuniary  success 
as  any  other  class  of  business  men.  but  like  most  business  men.  especially 
retailers,  they  do  not  waste  much  time  or  money  in  tryinp  to  inspire  the 
masses  with  hiph  ideals  or  in  improvinpr  and  refininpf  their  taste.  Politicians 
do  not  make  pood  park  commissioners,  not  alone  because  they  are  not  pood 
iiidpes  of  landscape  beauty,  but  because  they  are  stronply  biased  in  the  di- 
rection of  decidinp  every  question  in  the  way  that  will  pain  them  and  their 
partv  friends  and  votes,  and  because  they  will  inevitably  sacrifice  what  seems 
to  them  such  trivial  thinps  as  matters  of  appearance  to  oblipe  people  who 
pcnerally  have  some  personal  or  selfish  or  party  end  in  view.  The  niimber 
of  cases  that  arise  in  park  administration  in  which  a  politician  will  decide 
contrary  to  the  reqtnVements  of  pood  taste  are  far  more  numerous  than  any- 
one who  has  not  had  lonp  experience  of  park  matters  could  imapine,  or  be- 
lieve if  told. 

A  political  park  commissioner  will  be  apt  to  favor  the  determination 
of  the  number  of  and  the  selection  of  sites  for  parks  that  will  pain  him  or  his 
party  the  most  votes,  or  that  will  please  pecuniarily  interested  persons  or 
corporations.  He  will  usually  prefer  to  decide  all  such  questions  without 
expert  advice,  knowinp  that  without  such  puidance  he  can  surely  decide 
accordinp  to  his  own  interest  and  that  of  his  party,  while  with  it,  he  may  be 
hampered  in  securinp  what  he  wants  done.  He  will  favor  the  employment  of 
experts  if  they  must  be  employed,  who  will  be  subservient  and  "easy  to  pet 
alonp  with,"  and  he  will  prefer  a  superintendent  who  will  purchase  supplies 
from  the  "ripht"  dealer.  He  will  want  to  prant  licenses  for  all  sorts  of 
amusement  concerns  repardless  of  the  park  landscape,  provided  only  they  are 
likely  to  be  popular  and  are  run  by  the  "ripht"  men.  and  so  on.     ♦     ♦     "♦ 

Parks- should  Be  kept  out  of  politics  not  only  by  not  havinp  politicians 
ipi).-.inted  as  park  commissioners,  but.  rememberinp  that  "money  is  power," 
by  takinp  the  power  of  makinp  the  annual  park  appropriations  from  the  city 
povernment. 


FRANK   I.    MILLElJ< 

PRINTS  t 
BLOOMINGTON.^ 


UNIVERSmr  OF  HXINOIS-UflBANA 


3  0112  061867021 


